An adult should ALWAYS be present and supervising, even if there are lifeguards present. The supervising adult should be sober and fully engaged in supervising (not on the phone – the digital detox is good for you). Take turns with other adults. The adult should be close to babies and toddlers at all times. Ideally, the supervising adult should know CPR (My take: everyone looking after children, including parents and grandparents, should know CPR).

**Remember babies and toddlers can drown in as little as 3-6 cm of water, so careful even with paddling pools or on the edge of water on the beach.

Teach your child from early age about water safety. Find resources Water Safety Ireland

Prevent tragedy: not allow your teens to go swimming unsupervised water or in water that is not safe for swimming. No, this will not make you popular. Talk to your teen about rip tides, unsafe practices such as challenging friends to go beyond comfort level in water. Help them feel comfortable enough to say “no” to being pushed beyond their comfort or ability in water. Make sure they have learned to swim from a qualified instructor. Teach them to never mix alcohol and water activities.

Do not allow your children to rely on float aids or inflatable toys as life preservers. Use an approved life jacket.

Know boating and small craft safety. Don’t mix water sports and alcohol. Every child out on a boat – that includes inflatable paddleboards – should have a properly fitting, approved life jacket on at all times.

And sunscreen. Please, please, please put an approved sunscreen on your child. Questions?  Everything you need to know about sunscreen with some serious urban mythbusting