As the Bank Holiday approaches, take care

Editorial Department • Published 27 May 2010 16:00 Comments 1 Comment

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he pain and grief of a family mourning their youngest son and brother in a tragic accident on Lough Erne is a stark reminder of the inherent dangers of using the lake.

We in Fermanagh are defined by this sparkling waterway, but it has claimed too many lives and at the weekend, tragically claimed another.

Our hearts go out to the family of Stuart Irwin. His sister's tribute to him is a moving testament to a young man who evidently had so much to live for and so much to offer. That he is gone is the most dreadful tragedy.

All too often in this newspaper we warn of the dangers of the roads. The lough is a more silent danger, but just as potentially deadly.

It is the most mesmerising presence and on a sunny day, it is easy to see why people want to get in for a swim. There seems no other better way to cool off. And often, it is on a whim that people decide to get into the water, encouraged by the hot weather and the desire to escape the heat. It isn't surprising to learn then, that the majority of all drownings and near drownings occur between May and August, when the temperatures are on the rise.

But like all stretches of water, Lough Erne has its dangers.

We are fortunate to have an excellent RNLI crew together with dedicated members of both Ambulance and Police services.

When the sun is shining, because we're so relaxed, we may be more likely to think about excitement rather than safety and that's when accidents are most likely to happen.

So it pays to think about water safety, whether it is on a weekend outing to the beach, the local pool or in Lough Erne.

Young children need to be watched constantly. They love water and are attracted to it. Teaching children to swim should be a priority and they should always be supervised.

Be aware that water can be deeper and colder than you may have been prepared for and that there may be weeds and other plant life in the water.

Never swim alone and don't swim out of your depth.

This Bank Holiday, if it proves to be another fair weekend, think water safety. And that goes for the rest of the summer.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 27 May 10

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Jun 12, 12:58
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johnsmith5082
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Jun 30, 21:28
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Yes, I agreed your thought.....This topic is a very useful to us..... Thanks for Sharing....Especially Teaching children to swim..........

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johnsmith

Beach Holiday Guide

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