Bundoran Lifeboat station has issued a set of guidelines after warning people that there will be no lifeguards on duty this weekend.
Lifeguards are not due to take up residence on ANY of Donegal’s beaches until June.
With lots of sunshine forecast, there are fears many will flock to the county’s beaches.
The RNLI Lifeboat station in Bundoran asks people to take extra care if out on beaches.
A spokesperson said “With this in mind, and the hot weather due, we ask that beach users take extra caution and please follow the advice below.
“We would also remind you that the 5km travel restriction is still in place for at least another week and would ask that everyone respects the government guidelines around travel.”
To stay safe on the beach;
• Protect and keep an eye on your family
• Stay together and don’t use inflatables
• In an emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the for the Coast Guard
Please find all the latest beach safety advice here https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety
Think twice before entering the water- Can you swim? Does someone know you’re going in? Can someone call for help if you get into difficulty?
If you enter the water and get into trouble remember-
1. Fight your instinct to thrash around- First, keep calm and try not to panic. Your instinct will be to swim hard – don’t.
2. Lean back- Lean back, extending your arms and legs, to keep your mouth and nose out of the water and your airway clear.
3. Gentle movements- If you need to, gently move your arms and legs in a sculling motion to help you float.
4. Catch your breath- Float until you can control your breathing. Do this for 60-90 seconds or until you feel calm.
5. Now think about how to get out- Only now can you think about the next steps. If you can, swim to safety. If someone is nearby, raise a hand and call for help.
If you see someone in difficulty- dial 999 and ask for the Coast Guard
More information on our Float to Live campaign can be found here https://www.respectthewater.com/
THe spokesperosn added “Rip currents are strong currents running out to sea and are prevalent on Bundoran beaches. Rip currents can appear and disappear with different states of the tide but can also be permanent.
“We have two permanent rip currents that you should avoid- They are the right-hand side of Bundoran Main Beach as you are looking out to sea (Great Northern side) and also along the cliff side at Tullan Strand (past the Fairy Bridges). We would urge people not to swim in these areas.
“If you are caught in a rip current, do not try and swim against it- instead, swim parallel to shore until you are out of the rip, then swim towards shore or raise a hand and shout for help.
“The places to swim towards if you are caught in the permanent rips currents mentioned above are;
“The Great Northern side of Main Beach (But be careful as it is rocky) and towards the cliffs at Tullan Strand.”
Learn more on how to spot and avoid rip currents and what to do if you get caught in one here https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/rip-currents
In the event of a member of the public seeing a person in difficult they should immediately ring 999 or 112. Remember if you are unsure if a person is in difficulty you can still ring 999 and the Coast Guard will make a decision around checking the area.
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