ELEVEN DROWN IN IRELAND EVERY MONTH

There are 135 drownings in Ireland every year - that's more than eleven per month. The risk of drowning increases during bank holiday weekends, with cold weather being the main risk for hypothermia, and stranding, falling and entanglement being the most common scenarios to occur as many people take to seasonal water based activities for the first time.

Irish Water Safety have issued a number of safety warnings for this May Bank Holiday with the encouragement to wear lifejackets being at the top of the list. Walkers and Anglers are also encouraged to stay away from edges and to avoid walking in places where they could be caught unaware of incoming tides.

All are encouraged to have the Coast Guard's number, 112, on hand in case of emergencies and those with children are advised to maintain constant supervision when their children are in contact with water. The Irish Water Safety are also encouraging all those who are partaking in aquatic activites this bank holiday to ensure that they first have proper training, a service which they can avail of at www.safetyzone.ie.

Swimmers are also warned to swim parallel and close to the shore as the water is not yet warm enough for extended swims.

Irish Water Safety encourages everyone to take swimming, lifesaving, survival and rescue classes - for further information click on www.iws.ie. Report missing or located ringbuoys, essential for public rescues, at www.ringbuoys.ie.