Study reveals: 20% of people in Ireland can't swim; 30% are "not confident" in water

Summer has started and while millions are preparing to enjoy the good weather at the beach or swimming pools in Ireland and abroad, the risks of accidents also increase. In fact, a new survey of 1,000 Irish people has found that one in three say they can swim, but do not feel confident doing so. The survey, carried out by Aura Leisure Centres, also found that:

 - 52.8% of people living in Ireland are not confident swimmers;

- Male swimmers consider themselves more confident in the water than female swimmers;

- Only one in three people aged 65+ consider themselves confident swimmers;

- The most capable age group for swimming is aged 55-64, over 85% of whom can swim on some level. 

Speaking of the survey, Niamh Holohan, Communications Manager of Aura Leisure Centres, said: “This survey presents mixed results. We’re delighted that so many people in the country can swim. But we should also be aware of overestimating our abilities, especially since we are at the peak time of the year for swimming. While drownings are less common than they once were, the figure is still too high. Let’s be aware of our capabilities and avoid unnecessary risks.”

103 people drowned in Ireland in 2018, six fewer than in 2017 when 109 drowned. This is the lowest figure in eighty years when 89 drowned in 1939. “This suggests that water safety awareness initiatives are working, but there is much work to do,” said Niamh. “Two-thirds as many people die in our waters as on our roads. This is an unacceptable figure, especially considering that swimming is relatively seasonal while driving is constant year-round.”

A common cause of maritime tragedies is risk-taking and overestimating one’s ability to swim in adverse conditions. Our survey found that more men consider themselves confident swimmers than women. And statistics from Irish Water Safety found that three times more victims of drowning are male than female. 

How Can I Stay Safe While Swimming?

Here are four simple recommendations to avoid problems while swimming:

Buddy up – Always swim with another person — whether you’re swimming in a pool or in a lake. Even experienced swimmers can become tired or get muscle cramps, which might make it difficult to get out of the water. When people swim together, they can help each other or go for help in case of an emergency.

Get skilled –Speaking of emergencies, it’s good to be prepared. Taking swimming lessons and learning some life-saving skills, such as CPR and rescue techniques, can help you save a life and be fully prepared for the water.

Know your limits –Swimming can be a lot of fun — and you might want to stay in the water as long as possible. If you’re not a good swimmer or you’re just learning to swim, don’t go in water that’s so deep that you can’t touch the bottom and don’t try to keep up with skilled swimmers. That can be hard, especially when your friends are challenging you — but it’s a pretty sure bet they’d rather have you safe and alive.

Swim in safe areas only – Swimming in an ocean, river or lake is different from swimming in a pool. You need more energy to handle the currents and other changing conditions in the water. So, it’s a good idea to swim only in places that are supervised by a lifeguard. If something does go wrong, lifeguards are trained in rescue techniques.

About Aura Leisure Centres

Aura Holohan Group is an Irish owned company with over 30 years’ experience in the Leisure Industry and has been operating local authority leisure centres throughout Ireland for the last 16 years.

The company has a proven track record in working to support the delivery of public leisure facilities nationwide. Aura currently operates nine leisure centres and one public pool throughout Ireland, as well as operating DKIT Sport in Dundalk and 3 Anytime Fitness Clubs in Dublin, with their support office also based in Dublin.