AN innovative new lifebelt system has been developed on Derry's River Foyle and Strabane's River Mourne to enhance water safety.
The new life-saving equipment will help the Foyle Search and Rescue organisation respond quicker to river emergencies.
Each of the 35 lifebuoy housing systems (including 14 new units) on the rivers have been updated to include specific zone and number information as well as contact numbers to help rescue volunteers. A new app has also been developed locally to monitor and maintain the lifebelts.
Niall Doran, of Derry’s City Centre Initiative (CCI), said the new system was developed through a partnership involving Foyle Search and Rescue, CCI and Derry Strabane policing partnership. The group audited, reviewed and eventually replaced existing lifebelts over the last year.
“The new life saving equipment in Derry and Strabane will massively improve public safety in and around the River Foyle and River Mourne.
“Locally we have developed an app which will be used by Foyle Search and Rescue and the city centre wardens for the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of the new equipment on the River Foyle. This will ensure that any issues with the equipment are logged and dealt with without delay,” Mr Doran said.
Stephen Twells of Foyle Search and Rescue said the new system was developed in response to the use of lifebelts in the past.
“We have seen the lifebelts along the river activated on 37 occasions to save lives. All lifebelts now have a specific zone and number marked on them to enable quick identification of the location should the lifebelt be activated. Contact telephone numbers are also visible on each of the lifebuoy housings,” Mr Twells said.
Chairman of Derry and Strabane policing partnership, Drew Thompson said congratulated all the partners involved in developing the new system.
“The enhancement of river safety is important for everyone availing of these resources (Rivers Foyle and Mourne) and we will continue to explore ways to make our rivers safer places for all their users,” Mr Thompson said.
