Safety around Bathing Water: Public Health Information

• Never swim or participate in water sports alone or after drinking alcohol
• Do not drink alcohol before or while you are supervising children who are near or in water
• Aways wear the correct safety equipment and buoyancy aid for the water activity you are doing
• Never interfere with life buoys/ring buoys - you could cost a life
• When swimming in the sea, stay in the designated swimming areas and swim in your depth and parallel to/in line with the shore
• Watch out for strong currents in the sea or rivers, and riptides in the sea
• Always swim in areas patrolled by lifeguards - see www.iws.ie for information about lifeguarded waterways - and obey their instructions
• Drowning can happen in seconds and in silence so even when a lifeguard is on duty, watch children at all times
• Do not swim in places you are unfamiliar with, unless there is a lifeguard on duty
• Watch out for any sudden drops or changes in the depth of water
• There are risks associated with swimming in cold water – so be cautious
• Wash your hands with clean water or use alcohol hand rub after being in the water or participating in water based activities
• Always wash your hands before eating
• Do not swim when you have diarrhoea
• Remember to keep protected from the sun by wearing appropriate SPF (sunscreen) and protective clothing
• The giant hogweed plant will often be found near water. Even slight contact with this plant can cause serious skin irritation in the presence of sun light - find out more at www.poisons.ie
• Irish Water Safety has lots of useful water safety information leaflets/posters