On Amber Thursday Fingal County Council calls for caution on roads and water ahead of Bank Holiday fun
Fingal County Council is appealing to the public to stay safe over the August Bank Holiday weekend as it marks ‘Amber Thursday’ for 2024.
The August bank holiday weekend is always high on the agenda for fire safety, water safety and road safety promotion officers, and this year, a joint cross-agency national promotion drive has been established to raise awareness of the three safety elements ahead of this busy weekend, namely, Amber Thursday.
The colour amber signifies a hazard or warning.
On one of the busiest weekends of the year, people tend to take to the roads, beaches and outdoors to take part in various activities. The likes of driving, swimming or camping bring with them an important element of safety and awareness.
As there is a strong focus on road safety this year, Larry Bergin, Road Safety Officer for Fingal County Council has a couple of tips for driving this weekend. He says ‘’Leave a little extra time for your journeys this weekend. Excess speed and driving when tired kills. It is important to stop for rest breaks on long journeys and drive a little slower. Don’t drive impaired - Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts everyone at risk. It's not just about your safety—it's about protecting our entire community. Stay sober behind the wheel and help us keep our roads safe for everyone’’.
Water rescuers are also expected to have a busy weekend as people take to water activities. Last year, the Irish Coast Guard coordinated responses to 2,788 incidents, which was the second highest number in 5 years, and August was their busiest month with a total of 391 incidents.
Lifeguards are on duty on our Fingal Beaches. Swimmers are reminded to swim within their depth and always swim at a lifeguarded beach. Swimming inland in lakes and rivers is also proven to be particularly high risk in terms of water safety.
We asked our Fingal lifeguards for some advice ahead of visiting our beaches this August Bank Holiday Weekend. They have advised the public not to swim in any area with a red flag displayed and to not bring inflatables to the beach. Another important piece of advice is to teach your children your name and if possible, give them your phone number in case they get lost.
The bank holiday weekend can also be a busy time for firefighters who are called to various incidents including barbeque or domestic fires and road traffic collisions. To avoid injuries, or damage to property, never BBQ on a balcony and ensure the barbecue is on a flat site, well away from the house/apartment, trees or shrubs. Never leave the barbecue unattended and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies.
People are being particularly reminded to not light fires in or near forests, recreational areas or other amenities and motorists are asked to park responsibly and not to block emergency access routes.
Enjoy the Bank Holiday Weekend safely and be sure to take the opportunity to visit our Parks and the Fingal coastline to relax. Fingal is surrounded by sandy beaches and 88 kilometres of coastline and is home to 2,000 hectares of parkland and open space as many wonderful heritage properties. This variety offers plenty of options for families to enjoy the August bank holiday.