Proud day for lifesavers
WEXFORD Water Safety held its annual certificates presentation last Friday in the Riverbank House Hotel, in conjunction with Irish Water Safety Awareness Week.
It was a very proud day for all the volunteers who work tremendously hard all year round to prevent drowning and to educate people, both young and old, in water safety best practices.
Lar O'Connor, chairman, Wexford Water Safety, presented certificates to acknowledge the achievements of its members during the year.
Instructor awards were presented to Rachel Dempsey and David Lee, while Swimming Teacher awards were presented to Marie Wilkinson, David Lee and Mark Bradley. Beach lifeguard and Assistant Swimming Teacher awards were also presented on the night.
Wexford Water Safety veterans, Tom Doyle and John Doyle, were both awarded their silver service bar of honour to mark 30 years of voluntary dedication to the cause of water safety. Over the years, they have taught many to swim and trained many lifeguards, teachers and instructors throughout the county.
National Water Safety Awareness Week takes place from this week in the lead-up to the busy June Bank Holiday weekend, which traditionally marks the start of the summer.
Wexford Water Safety anticipate that hundreds of people will flock to the county's beaches in the coming days and weeks and are encouraging people to take responsibility to ensure they remain safe around the water in an attempt to reduce drowning during the summer season ahead.
The June Bank Holiday weekend has seen some of the most heart wrenching drowning tragedies and Wexford Water Safety PRO Ruairi Farrell is keen to alert the public to the dangers that the open water can present.
'With an average of 160 drownings each year, we are encouraging members of the public to remain vigilant on our own coastlines and while holidaying abroad to ensure fatalities do not occur,' he said.
'It is of utmost importance that people swim at lifeguarded beaches throughout the county (Courtown, Ballymoney, Morriscastle, Curracloe, Rosslare and Duncannon) and try to take classes in swimming and water safety which are run voluntarily during the summer months,' said Ruairi. Swimming Lessons (over 5): July 6 – Rosslare/Ballymoney July 13 – Kilmore/Bunclody July 20 – Tinaberna August 3 – Curracloe August 10 – Cullenstown Lifesaving classes (over 10): July 13 – New Ross July 20 – Rosslare/Courtown July 27 – Duncannon/Cahore August 3 – Fethard/Bunclody
