The Goa Tourism Development Corporation, under its beach safety management programme, has posted 52 trained lifeguards on various locations along the 105 km state coastline, to prevent incidents of drowning in the sea this tourist season.
These 52 lifeguards carrying out emergency, rescue as well as support functions, replace the existing 80-odd lifeguards.
The GTDC managing director, Mr Sanjeet Rodrigues, addressing a press conference, this evening informed that about Rs 5 to 6 lakh have been spent on the training of the lifeguards, while an amount of around Rs 10 to 12 lakh has been utilised to purchase modern equipments like high visibility binoculars, pocket masks, oxygen resuscitators, portable oxygen cylinders, fluorescent jackets, hand microphones, water goggles and first aid kit boxes among other things. “The mobile lifeguard observation chairs have already been provided, while beach observation posts are being designed,” he informed, adding that a consultant agency would also be appointed in the future, to monitor the functioning of the lifeguards.
Speaking further, Mr Rodrigues said that the 52 lifeguards have been selected from 129 applicants, and have been trained by the trainers from the National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) as well as other professional agencies.
“All appointed lifeguards have successfully completed Surf Life Saving Techniques (SLST) course through the NIWS and First Aid and CPR course through the Goa branch of the Red Cross Society,” he added.
“The GTDC,” Mr Rodrigues said, “has done proper analysis of beach stretches which are frequented by tourists as well as locals, and proper emphasis has been laid on areas where drowning deaths had occurred.”
He also informed that the deployment of lifeguards has been done in areas, after conducting the above analysis and by understanding the pattern of drowning deaths.
The 52 lifeguards have been spread on beaches at Keri, Arambol, Mandrem (Ashvem), Mandrem (Junes), Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute (North and entrance), Candolim, Sinquerim, Miramar, Baina, Bogmalo, Velsao, Arossim, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Sernabatim and Benaulim.
The MD of the GTDC maintained that proper demarcation of beaches into ‘Safe Swimming Zones’ has been done and such zones have been marked with two yellow flags, while non-swimming areas are being marked with red flags. All demarcated swimming zones are further manned by the lifeguards with full equipments, he pointed out.
Mr Rodrigues said that the lifeguards have been instructed to display tide timings on day-to-day basis and various pamphlets giving information to tourists on safe swimming would be distributed to all the stakeholders, including tourists.
“The Corporation has already interacted with various stakeholders of the tourism industry, including Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, as well as groups of locals/ volunteers and discussed the beach safety management programme with them,” Mr Rodrigues stated, adding that the private stakeholders have also agreed to allow lifeguards to use their facilities like telephones, fax, first aid services, transport vehicles, etc.
Apart from this facility, the GTDC has sought help from the locals, respective village panchayats and staff of the forest department at various check posts, especially in certain isolated stretches of beaches which have neither hotels nor shacks, he informed.
Replying to a question, Mr Rodrigues said that the biggest problem faced by the lifeguards are assaults from the tourists, who, when requested not to enter rough waters or accident prone zones in the sea, get agitated. “We would like the tourists to respect the sea rather than confront it, especially under the influence of the alcohol,” he added.
Answering another question, the MD of the GTDC said that nearly 2.5 million tourists are expected to arrive in Goa, this tourist season, most of whom will be visiting different beaches around the state, and therefore 52 lifeguards are just not enough to handle the situation. “How can 52 lifeguards handle the 105 km long Goan coastline, in a situation wherein nearly 2,000 people swim only along the Calangute beach, at peak time,” he observed, adding, “However, the Corporation will try to prevent any untoward incident in the beach waters, to the best of its ability.”
Answering yet another question, Mr Rodrigues said that red flags would be put up on all beaches after 6 p.m, as the sea becomes rough in the evening due to the increase in wave action and strong winds.
-Navhind Times, Goa Daily
