Lough Derg RNLI wish Tipperary 'All the Best' in the All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

Volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI have extended their best wishes to the Tipperary hurling team ahead of the All-Ireland Senior Championship Final this Sunday.

The RNLI and the GAA have a joint-partnership to raise awareness of the risks of drowning and encourage people to enjoy the water safely through the charity’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign.

The RNLI’s work with the GAA to prevent drowning involves RNLI volunteer ambassadors visiting GAA clubs around Ireland to give water safety advice to young people and to raise awareness of the risks of drowning.

The key message of the RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign is to Float To Live if you find yourself in trouble in cold water. This involves: Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about – this can lead to breathing in water and drowning.

Instead, relax and FLOAT on your back, until you have regained control of your breathing.

The recommended floating position is to lean back in the water and keep your nose and mouth clear and extend your arms and legs.

*If you find it difficult to float then make gentle motions such as sculling with your hands and feet and concentrate on bringing your breathing under control.

Lizzie Cavanagh, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, said: ‘The RNLI and GAA are working together to share important key respect the water messages like ‘Float to Live’ in the aim to reduce the number of lives lost through drowning in Ireland. The exciting collaboration which is focussed on community activity has brought key lifesaving messages to thousands of people through local GAA clubs across the country.

‘Lough Derg RNLI is the only Tipperary based RNLI station, so we will be giving it extra welly in support of our Tipperary hurlers come Sunday.’

For more advice on how to float and other water safety advice visit RespectTheWater.com