Warm air does not mean warm water

Water Safety Ireland is cautioning people not to underestimate the dangers of swimming in cold water.

The caution comes as air temperatures rise however water temperatures are still cold.

Swimming in cold water can result in the rapid cooling of muscles needed to swim and stay afloat.

Swim within your depth, swim briefly and be mindful that any cooling of the muscles can make it more difficult to swim safely.

Advice to reduce your drowning risk:

1 Swim within your depth and enter the water slowly to acclimatize.

2 Swim at Lifeguarded waterways https://watersafety.ie/lifeguards/

3 Swim in areas that are traditionally knwon to be safe and have ringbuoys available for rescues

4 Never use inflatable toys in open water

5 Children require close, uninterruped, adult supervision at all times

6 Swim and stay within your depth. Make sure that the edges are shallow shelving so that you can safely and easiuly enter and exit the water

7 To escape a rip current, swim parallel to the shore and then swim back ashore. See www.watersafety.ie/rip-currents/

8 Never swim in quarries or resevoirs

9 Alcohol is a factor in one third of drownings - never mix alcohol with water activities

10 Beware of standing by incoming tides. Carry a charged phone at all times and in an emergency call 112 and ask for the Coast Guard

11 Alwasy wear a correctly fitting lifejacket wehn boating.

If you see someone in trouble:

1 SHOUT - REACH - THROW

a. SHOUT to calm, encourage and orientate them;

b. REACH with anything that prevents you from entering the water (clothing/stick)

c. THROW a ringbuoy or any floating object