This article is from page 6 of the 2006-06-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
PEOPLE have been urged to exercise caution in Clare resorts during the summer, in the wake of six drownings nationwide last week.
Clare County Council’s Water Safety Officer Liam Griffin is warning people travelling to the county’s beaches to exercise caution. There will be full-time lifeguard cover on Clare’s top 12 beaches, throughout July and August.
“Fanore, Lahinch, Spanish Point and Kilkee are four of the biggest beaches in the country and huge numbers of people go there every week,” said Mr Griffin.
He is warning people not to swim in unguarded locations, as these are the areas which present the most risks.
“I am getting calls that people are jumping into lakes all over the county and that is very dangerous. Make sure you don’t swim after eating and never go into water when you have alcohol consumed,” he warned.
He said people who bring children to the beach must ensure they are prepared to look out for their safety also.
“An average of 170 people drown in Ireland each year. When you compare that to the number of people who die on the roads, it is an unacceptably high figure, given that less people use the water than use the roads,” said Mr Griffin.
“There have been no drownings at any guarded beaches in Clare, so far as I can remember,” he said.
Weekend lifeguard cover is provided at the four main beaches in the county until the end of June, and this will convert into full-time cover at all beaches in July and August, where a team of 24 lifeguards will be on duty between 11am and 7pm.
“All of our lifeguards have qualifications. We feel that the beaches we have are big beaches, with huge volumes of people and we want the highest standards possible,” he said.
Clare’s beaches will attract thousands of surfers throughout the summer and Mr Griffin is advising surfers not to go beyond their depths.
He is also advising people of the dangers of swimming with dolphins, after a German tourist sustained serious injuries, after colliding with a dolphin, off White Strand beach, Miltown Malbay, last year.
“My worry is there is going to be a fatality if people don’t stop swimming with the dolphin.
“By their nature, they need deep water. You are in deep water if you swim with the dolphin,” he said.