The Irish Coast Guard and RNLI have issued a plea to people to think of rescue workers before swimming or doing watersports this weekend.
People who live near the water are being asked to exercise safely and protect frontline services.
Under normal circumstances, many people would be heading to the coast this weekend to enjoy the Easter bank holiday.
Given the current COVID-19 outbreak, The Coast Guard and RNLI are urging everyone to minimise the risk to Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteer crews, Helicopter crew and other front line emergency services, through being unintentionally exposed to COVID-19 if they need to carry out an operation.
A statement from the organisations said: “While you are allowed out for daily exercise, we do not recommend that this exercise is on or in the sea and all travel restrictions must be observed. SAR services including RNLI lifeboat service, Coast Guard Helicopter services and Coast Guard units are still available, but every callout has the potential to put additional pressure on SAR services and other front-line emergency services as well as potentially exposing them to COVID-19.”
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI, said: “We know people who live near the coast still want to exercise by the sea, but when you do this, please think of the potential impact of your actions on RNLI lifeboat volunteers and other emergency services.”
Gerard O’Flynn from the Coast Guard said, “Please; Stay Home & Stay Back to Stay SAFE. Observe the 2×2 Rule. 2M physical distance & 2KM travel distance. Arrangements are in place for Coast Guard services including Helicopters and Volunteer Coast Guard units to assist HSE, Gardai and Local Authorities in provision of community support and other logistical support. We need our people to stay healthy during this emergency to enable us support the national action plan.”
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