Mayo safety officers gear up for Amber Thursday

FIRE, road and water safety officers across Ireland are joining forces to promote Amber Thursday ahead of the August bank holiday weekend, which is traditionally one of the busiest weekends of the year.

As thousands of people flock to beaches, rivers and pools, many more take to the roads while some go camping or fire up the barbecue either in the garden or away from the home. All these activities bring with them an important element of safety and awareness.

Thursday (July 29) marks the first Amber Thursday event which is a joint collaboration between safety bodies, fire services and local authorities to help promote fire, road and water safety over the holiday weekend to ensure people are aware of risks and dangers associated with these activities.

The recent dry spell and warm weather has resulted in an increase in outdoor fires while there have also been some tragedies in the waters and on the roads.

Last August, lifeguards rescued 206 people at risk of drowning, administered first aid 1,780 times and reunited 140 lost children with their loved ones.

Martin O’Sullivan, chairman of Water Safety Ireland, said: “We should all be particularly mindful of water safety during bank holiday weekends. Good weather and picture-postcard scenes can lull people into a false sense of security so it is important that people make every effort to swim at lifeguarded waterways.

“Let them be there for you by going to any of the waterways listed at www.watersafety.ie/lifeguards where people should swim between the flags, within their depth, and never use inflatable toys that quickly put users in danger of drowning.”

Long journeys can be a challenge for some motorists, which can lead to driver fatigue. Speeding and non-wearing of a seatbelt are also common factors which result in serious or fatal injuries by road users.

Anyone taking to the roads over the bank holiday weekend should be mindful of the many risks associated with travelling on the road. Everyone needs to share the road and be cautious and courteous towards one another.

This bank holiday weekend is a particularly busy time for firefighters who are called to various incidents, including wildfires, forest fires, outdoor fires, barbecue or domestic fires and road traffic collisions. The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) is encouraging the public to become aware of the risks from fires occurring outdoors, in the home, in the garden, while visiting parks and wilderness areas or in areas close to vegetation or trees.

Amber Thursday is supported by local authorities, the Chief Fire Officers Association, Road Safety Authority, Water Safety Ireland and local authority road safety officers.

Further information can be found at www.amberthursday.ie.