Environment
A Heatwave Safety Reminder from Mayo County Council
2, Jul 2018 - 11:20

We are delighted to welcome the sunshine and the visitors that follow it to our wonderful county. The increase in tourism numbers can be felt in all parts of the county and we welcome everyone staying here enjoying the holiday weather in the many places of interest and beauty throughout our county.
The highly anticipated sunrays are both a delight to enjoy, but also to be respected. We would like to remind everyone to be mindful of the Met Eireann Yellow Weather Warnings in place  we remind householders, farmers and businesses to avoid un-necessary use of water to prevent any weather-related shortages, if any water leaks are noticed by the public they should be reported to Irish Water on 1850 278 278 or their local Group Water Scheme.
People are also being warned to take extra care in the water after ten deaths by drowning in Ireland in the last month, according Irish Water Safety.
Mayo County Council urges people to take the appropriate steps to stay sage in water:
Inexperienced swimmers should swim within their depth
Swim in designated swimming areas, especially where there is a life guard on duty
No matter what you are doing wear a life jacket
Keep paddling pools supervised at all times.

The hot temperatures can also bring difficulties whilst driving, with sun glare a difficult driving issue Mayo County Council Road Safety Office offers the following advice:
Keep your windshield clean: the particles on a dirty windshield intensify the glare as opposed to blocking it.
One of the most dangerous attributes of sunrise/sunset glare is that it comes up so suddenly. Keep your eyes focused farther down the road and be aware when you are turning into the sun.
Adjust your speed when driving into the sun and understand that other drivers may also slow down significantly, or even stop suddenly.
Keep a set of polarized sunglasses within easy reach in the car.
Use headlights - even during very bright days, having headlights on can help you be more visible to other drivers
The Road Safety Office would also like to remind people to look after their animals and never leave dogs unattended in vehicles during the hot weather.
Another heatwave related safety issue is forest and gorse fires. Mayo County Council Fire Department warns people not to light fires that also includes camp fires and bonfires, either intentionally or accidentally, due to the extremely dry weather.
We would finally like to remind people to Mind Your Neighbours, drop in to visit any elderly or vulnerable neighbours to check on whether they might require some assistance or just a friendly visit during this heat spell.