PRESS RELEASE
IRISH WATER SAFETY
30thMay 2011
National Water Safety Awareness Week 2011
May 30th – June 6th
How long can you hold your breath in water?
Breathing is easy until you fall overboard.
Your lifejacket will be your lifeline.
If you fall overboard, the key to surviving is being able to continue breathing until help arrives. If you are wearing a correctly fitting lifejacket you will stay afloat and breathing. If you are not wearing one and even if you have some swimming ability,you will probably drown,as you grow weaker due to the onset of hypothermia.
As part of National Water Safety Awareness Week (May 30th– June 6th), Irish Water Safety is pushing a new initiative in the hope of reducing the number of boating fatalities. As part of their “Be smart from the start” campaign, Irish Water Safety is pleading with the public to wear their life jacket on a small boat just as they would use a seatbelt in a car.
Carrying a lifejacket on board is simply not good enough. There is no excuse not to wear a life jacket on water, the best lifejacket being the one you will actually wear.Irish Water Safety has launched a new television campaign in the run up to the summer season that is working to convince recreational and commercialboaters to adopt safe practices, particularly the wearing of life jackets. The adverts can be viewed on the IWS website and on their Facebook and YouTube pages.
Deaths on water are preventable.There are far too many situations in whichlifejackets were not considered. Tragically this can often be as a result of not thinking about safety rather than a case of not wanting to do the right thing. Often life jackets sit on boats, unused which is a practice that has to end to save lives.
Here are just some of the tragic circumstances in which people have drowned as a result of not wearing a lifejacket.
-Capsized in rough water.
-Sinking in unexpectedly heavy sea conditions.
-Thrown from the boat as a result of a collision.
-Injured by rocks or submerged objects.
-Tossed into cold water.
-Thrown off balance while fishing.
-Unable to swim because of heavy or waterlogged clothing.
-Wearable lifejackets not readily accessible (locked away or stowed under other gear).
-Not able to put them on quickly in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire).
If you have not used your lifejacket or buoyancy aid since last year then you will need to carry out the following checks:
-Visually Check all lifejackets and buoyancy aids for the following deficiencies:
-Ensure CO2 Cartridges have not been punctured
-Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly
-Check that fitted lights are operating correctly
-Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking by inflating the lifejacket overnight or immersing it in water checking for air bubbles
-Discard any faulty lifejackets by destroying them
-Always use your crotch strap when fitting your lifejacket
-Detailed information on PFD’s at
“BE SMART FROM THE START”– Always wear your lifejacket.
Media Enquiries to:
Irish Water Safety, The Long Walk, Galway
LoCall 1890-420.202
Tel: 091-564400 Fax: 091-564700
Mobiles: John Leech 087-6789600 Roger Sweeney 087-6789601