Water-loving schoolchildren urged to design a logo

CLARE Water Safety are running a Design a Logo Competition, open to all fifth and sixth-class pupils in the county’s 122 primary schools to mark this year’s water safety week.

The competition has two aims – to promote safety in and around water amongst children, their teachers and parents and to promote the water safety group’s new website.
Clare Water Safety recently launched a website on water safety activities in the county at www.clarewatersafety.com. This website will assist the area committee in promoting water safety in County Clare.
“The website will provide updated information on the splash, swim, safety and/or rescue classes held in Ennis, Lahinch and West County Hotel pools during the year. Information is also available on the 2010 summer schedule of classes planned for Flagmount, Kilkee, Labasheeda, Cappagh Pier in Kilrush, White Strand Doonbeg, White Strand Miltown Malbay and Ballyvaughan Pier.
It will also include news on Clare competitors who compete successfully in the sport of lifesaving at national, European and international levels,” Vivienne Purcell of CWS said.
This week is Irish Water Safety National Water Safety Awareness Week, and the logo design competition is ongoing in schools around the county.
“The competition is open to all fifth and sixth-class pupils in Clare. It will be great to see what kind of logos the children come up with for CWS. When schools receive information on the competition, they will also be given Irish Water Safety leaflets which include the 14 steps to safe and enjoyable swimming,” she added.
With the summer weather now here, people are cooling down in the waterways of Clare. Clare Water Safety is appealing to people to exercise caution at all times in and around the water. “The most important message for parents is that there is no substitute for supervision. Parents need to be constantly vigilant as it only takes seconds for tragedy to strike,” Ms Purcell said.
She also stressed the 14 steps to safe swimming – Do not swim alone; do not swim just after eating; do not swim when you are hot or tired; do not swim in strange places; do not swim out after anything drifting; do not swim out to sea; do not stay in the water too long; swim parallel and close to the shore; do what the lifeguard tells you; never use inflatable toys; pay attention to signs on the beach; do not be a bully; learn to use equipment before trying it out; remember these rules; enjoy yourselves; come home safely.
CWS is also offering Clare primary schools the opportunity to have a visit and talk from a qualified water safety instructor during the National Water Safety Awareness week.
CWS appeals to the public of County Clare to ensure that ring buoys throughout the county are not stolen or interfered with. Not alone is this a criminal offence but a damaged/missing ring buoy is possibly a lost life. Report a missing/damaged ring buoy by logging on to www.ringbuoys.ie, contacting the local gardaí or the Water Safety Officer, Clare County Council 065 6846249, or email: watersafetyoff@clarecoco.ie.