On Thursday (May 28^th) a safety exhibition took place at St Lawrence O’Toole National Schools on Sheriff Street in Dublin’s North Inner City. This was an initiative that has been in development over the last year in partnership between the Irish Coast Guard in Howth, An Garda Siochana in Store Street and a locally based Corporation, Canada Life Reinsurance under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

 

A program was designed in consultation with theschool and local authorities to improve overall water safety awareness with a particular focus on the dangers of jumping off high structures into nearby rivers and canals; this is a particular challenge in the area. An interactive approach was used with the children in small groups getting hands on with safety activities at discovery points; this built on the existing Irish Coast Guard safety programs allowing the audience to understand the consequences of their actions on or near the water.

 

During the exhibition 4^th and 5^th class children from both the Boys and Girls schools got to understand the use of ring buoys and the need to keep them safely stored for emergencies. They also got to discuss the dangers of abandoned waste like shopping trolleys that sit underneath the surface of rivers and canals that could cause serious injury if jumped into from a height. The Irish Coast Guard new Children’s Water safety pack along with wristbands weredistributed and the children will now take on an art competition depicting one of the safety messages from the day. There will be an award ceremony with prizes sponsored by the Irish Coast Guard and Canada Life Reinsurance in June for the winners.

 

This was a pilot partnership project led by the local Garda community policing team and the Coast Guard unit from Howth, it’s hoped the success of the project will lead to similar partnerships with corporations ensuring that children are able to make the most of the water during the summer but understand the dangers 

This morning the team visited Donaghmeade Library to talk about water safety. Three safety sessions were held with children from the local national school attending across the morning. The visit was organised in partnership with Dublin City Council library staff. The Irish Coast Guard safety team packs went down well with the children despite the homework in the packs for them to bring home!

During a visit to the CG station by Malahide cub scouts the unit were alerted to a jetski in Howth sound that appeared to be in difficulty. Unit volunteers went to the end of the West pier and observed what appeared to be a jetski out in the water being pushed by two swimmers. The Howth RNLI ILB was requested. It launched quickly and the swimmers and the jetski were recovered safely to the public slip. The jetski had broken down while they were out in Howth sound and they had entered the water in an attempt to push it back to harbour. One person was treated on scene for exposure but no further medical attention was required. Advice on carrying a means of communication and leaving a float plan ashore while out on the water was passed on to the casualties.

Incident 30/15

On Tuesday the CG NMOC control room were contacted about a person in need of assistance at Whitewaterbrook cliffs near the Baily lighthouse at Howth. The Howth unit's Cliff Rescue team were tasked along with IRCG helicopter Rescue 116, Howth Rnli lifeboat and Dublin Fire Brigade. The person was brought to the lifeboat station at Howth harbour by the ILB but was confirmed deceased at the scene.

Incident 29/15

Incident 27/5. Report of missing surfer in Dublin Bay. Initial Response Team from Howth tasked along with CG units from Dun Laoghaire and Rescue 116 joined Dun Laoghaire RNLI in search. Considered false alarm, good intent.
 
Incident 28/5. Early morning Flare Call in Malahide. Initial Response Team investigated, nothing to report.

This weekend we remember our colleague Sean Dunne who passed away this time last year. Sadly missed.

Incident 25/15 Boat assisted to shore by Coast Guard Boat

Incident 26/15 Surf Board washed up on Jameson Beach, Howth.

We ask water users who lose equipment like kayaks, surf boards,liife jackets etc to report them to the Dublin Coast Guard Control Centre at 01 6620922. This can save a search being launched unnecessarily and help us reunite lost equipment.