Ballinasloe was the site of Irish Water Safety's annual conference last weekend. Over one hundred water safety experts from around the country attended the event, which was hosted by Irish Water Safety, the statutory and voluntary body promoting water safety in Ireland.

The conference discussed all spheres of water safety, rescue and resuscitation in a bid to reduce Ireland's average of 160 drownings every year. Delegates recommended standards of safety in all spheres of water safety, rescue and resuscitation in an attempt to further build on the successes of last year when the lowest number of drownings was recorded since 1965. In 2006 a total of 131 drownings occurred in Ireland.

The vast majority of drowning incidents - along with many other aquatic injuries - are preventable. Irish Water Safety plays a key role in significantly reducing aquatic injuries and drownings through its education and promotion programmes. Adult supervision of children and the use of Personal Flotation Devices during water recreation activities and the erection of clear consistent signage and flags are some examples of measures recommended by Irish Water Safety in the past that that have helped prevent drowning.

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