There's something magical about a summer's day at the beach — sandy toes, ice cream drips, and the pure delight on your child's face when a wave catches them off guard. But if you're like most Irish mams, there's a quiet part of your brain that's always on alert the moment your little ones head anywhere near the water. As the summer holidays approach, we’ve partnered with Aura Leisure to share life-saving water safety tips to help parents keep their families safe, from the pool to the beach and beyond
That instinct is completely natural, and the good news is that a few simple, easy-to-remember rules can make a real difference to keeping your family safe this summer.
Here are five water safety rules worth knowing before you pack the cool bag and head off.
1. Stay Within Arm's Reach of Young Children
For children under seven, the advice from water safety experts is clear: stay close enough to touch them at all times. It sounds obvious, but it's easy to get distracted — a phone call, a chat with another parent, or just reaching for the suncream. Water safety is important, as incidents can occur quickly and may not always be easy to notice, even in shallow water.
If you're with a group of adults, agree beforehand on who is "on duty" at any given time. Taking turns means someone is always fully focused on the water, rather than everyone assuming someone else is watching.
2. Know Your Beach Flags
Irish lifeguarded beaches use a flag system that's worth knowing by heart — and worth teaching your children too.
Red and yellow flags: This is the safe swimming zone. Always swim between these flags.
Red flag: Danger — do not enter the water.
Orange windsock: Offshore wind present — not safe for inflatables.
Black and white chequered flag: This area is for surfboards and watercraft, not swimmers.
Water Safety Ireland recommends swimming only at lifeguarded beaches during staffed hours (typically 10am–6pm in summer). If there's no lifeguard on duty, extra caution is essential.
3. Teach Children What to Do If They Get Into Difficulty
One of the most valuable things you can do is teach children the "Float to Live" technique. If your child ever finds themselves in difficulty in the water, the instinct to thrash and fight the water can exhaust them quickly. Instead, encourage them to:
Lean back in the water
Spread their arms and legs wide
Tilt their head back to keep their face above water
Float calmly until help arrives or they can call for assistance
Practising this in a safe, supervised pool setting — and making it feel like a fun skill rather than a scary one — means it's more likely to come naturally in a stressful moment.
Aura Leisure offers a 10-level Learn to Swim programme, designed for all ages and abilities, helping children develop the skills and confidence to stay calm and safe in the water.
4. Life Jackets Are Non-Negotiable on Boats and Inflatables
If your summer plans include boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding—even just for a short trip—make sure every child wears a properly fitted, approved life jacket that meets the EN ISO 12402 standard. Pool floats and swimming vests are not a suitable substitute.
It's also worth being cautious about large inflatable rings and lilos at the beach. They can drift offshore quickly in wind or current, which is why the orange windsock flag is so important to watch for.
5. Learn Basic First Aid — Including CPR
Many parents find the idea of CPR daunting, but basic training is more accessible than ever. Irish Water Safety and the Irish Red Cross both offer short courses that are well worth doing before the summer kicks off. Even knowing the fundamentals can make a critical difference in the minutes before emergency services arrive.
If you see someone in difficulty in the water, the advice is: don't jump in yourself unless you're a trained rescuer. Throw something that floats, shout for help, and call 112 immediately.
Aura Leisure offers Rookie Lifeguard courses for children who are already competent swimmers and are looking to take the next step in developing their water safety and rescue skills. They also offer the RLSS National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) and AED qualifications for adults interested in becoming qualified lifeguards through the Aura Training Academy.
Win With Our Aura Swim Academy Art Competition!
Aura Leisure is launching the “My Swim Coach Superhero” drawing competition, giving children the chance to win a free term of Aura Swim Academy lessons. The initiative is designed to encourage creativity and engagement, inviting young participants to imagine and illustrate their swim coach as a superhero. Keep your eye out for shortlisted entries on MummyPages!
Just email us your child’s name, age, and hometown/county. Please also include their “swim coach superhero” artwork, along with the coach’s name, where they coach, and any other relevant details. Send everything to: elaine@sheologydigital.ie by the 31st July 2026.
Winner will be chosen and announced here and on our Facebook page on 15th August 2026.
A Final Word
Water days are some of the best memories you'll make with your children this summer. With a little preparation and these five simple rules in your back pocket, you can enjoy every splash with a lot more peace of mind. Stay close, stay informed, and have a wonderful summer.
For more information on water safety in Ireland, visit watersafety.ie or the Irish Coast Guard at coastguard.ie.
