Water safety taught to Nenagh pupils
RNLI Water Safety Officers provide water safety education to 493 pupils from Nenagh schools.
Almost 500 pupils and their teachers from five schools in Nenagh attended water safety talks by Killian O’Kelly, RNLI Water Safety Education Manager for Ireland. In addition to visiting their schools, many of the presentations took place at the Nenagh Tourist Office in the Town Hall.
Water safety education, particularly through talks with school children, is an essential part of the RNLI’s mission to reduce the number of preventable deaths and serious incidents in both coastal and inland water.
On Tuesday, May 23, Killian O'Kelly spoke with 206 children, and to a further 287 children on Thursday, May 24. He was supported by Trevor Whelan, RNLI Water Safety Officer. The talks and safety demonstrations were organised by John MacMahon, RNLI Community Safety Officer at Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station, and coordinated by Victoria Lee at the Nenagh Tourist Office, Tipperary County Council.
The RNLI visits hundreds of schools throughout the country every year to deliver water safety messaging. Killian says: “The charity has increased its focus on inland counties as 62% of drownings occur inland.
“During May, RNLI water safety teams have visited many of the primary and secondary schools near Lough Derg to deliver the 4 key safety messages: Stop and Think, Stay together, FLOAT, Call 999.”
Echoing these key safety messages, John MacMahon, RNLI Community Safety Officer at Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station, adds that it is crucial people know how to be safe near water; it could save a life.
His advice is to: Think: Is it safe to be here? What are the potential dangers? Stay together.
Be aware of each other and never become isolated. Float. If you fall into water, you are likely to get cold water shock.
This can make it temporarily difficult to breath and induce panic. If you float for 60 seconds this will pass and your breathing will get back to normal. Don’t hesitate to call for help. Call 999 or 112.
Victoria Lee at the Nenagh Tourist Office comments that she was delighted to partner with the RNLI to spread the water safety message to so many children especially before the summer holidays.