AS THE WEATHER grows ever-warmer, people are changing up their usual routines to make the most of the sun and to try to stay cool.
Met Éireann warned Ireland could see its highest temperature ever recorded on Thursday, as the ongoing spell of hot and humid weather is expected to peak across the country.
With that in mind, groups like the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Water Safety Ireland, and the HSE have urged people to remain mindful of the impact such weather can have, whether that’s overrun beaches, sun glare when driving, or UV damage.
On the beach front, footfall is up – leaving ice cream vendors and lifeguards busier than ever.
Both are preparing for what is set to be a busy few days ahead.
Lifeguard Oisin O’Grady, who works for Clare County Council, told The Journal there’s a substantial uptick in the number of people who arrive to the beaches when the weather brightens up.
He is among five lifeguards that will be stationed at a Co Clare beach from 11am to 7pm on a daily basis.
“There’s going to be a lot more people being brought in by the good weather,” O’Grady said, “and the important thing is for everyone to keep hydrated and wear sun cream while on the beach.”
When in the water, he said people must pay attention to the flags and not overestimate their abilities.
Children must be supervised at all times, and he said it was important to remember that inflatables are banned on public beaches, as they can cause people – but particularly children – to be pushed further out to sea.
Lifeguarding is a preventative measure, and the main focus is to ensure no one enters difficulty in the first place.
Hot weather like that forecast for this week usually draws out people who are not typically the types to go sea swimming, Roger McSweeney of Water Safety Ireland told The Journal, and it’s important to be cautious when entering the water.
He stressed that lifeguards “are not a babysitting service” and parents should not leave their kids by a lifeguard hut and go off themselves, as happens occasionally.
Most importantly, people should remain vigilant and not take risks, McSweeney said, concluding that a good day of work for a lifeguard is when they come home dry.
Back on shore
Yasmin Kahn of the family-owned Teddy’s Ice Cream also noted increased footfall as a result of the weather, although with Teddy’s it results in an increase in revenue rather than an increase in serious responsibility.
The business operates a number of physical shops in coastal areas in Dublin and Bray, and rents out ice cream vans for events.
Kahn was in great form with the good weather, and told The Journal that today one of their vans was out delivering ice cream to nurses at a hospital.
“It’s fabulous,” she said, “everybody loves ice cream.”
She said the only problem is with soft serve (so the likes of ’99s, the business’s top product) in that it’s “hard to maintain” in very hot weather.
“We’re just mad busy, and I’m so happy that we finally got a summer,” Kahn said. “It’s amazing to see people out and just enjoying it, whether it lasts for seven days or the rest of the summer. It just improves everyone’s mood.”
While outside may be heating up, Kahn said she and her staff are “freezing” in their units with the intense air-conditioning – ideal conditions for ice cream.