People Urged To Heed Water Safety Advice On World Drowning Prevention Day

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The public is being urged to heed water safety advice on what is World Drowning Prevention Day today. The Government and the Irish Coast Guard are supporting the Irish Water Safety campaign, which asks the public to learn at least one water safety skill. The campaign asks people to ‘Do One Thing’ such as: learn one water safety skill, share one piece of water safety advice, change one mind around water safety or be the one who takes responsibility for water safety.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton said that while 40% of Ireland’s population lives within 5km of the coast, 80% of drownings happen within  the home county of the victim.

For more information on water safety, visit www.gov.ie/summerready and www.gov.ie/safetyonthewater. To find out about World Drowning Prevention Day and how you can raise awareness for drowning prevention, visit www.watersafety.ie.