Safety with E24|7: More lifeguards to patrol Dubai beaches

The team of lifeguards monitoring Dubai’s coastline is to see an addition of half the existing number of lifeguards, as the concerned authorities have just returned from a scouting trip to the Philippines.

Eighteen new lifeguards have been employed, said Mohammad Hassan Al Fardan, Head of the Parks and Recreation Section at the Public Parks and Horticulture Department at Dubai Municipality to Emirates 24/7.

“We currently employ 35 lifeguards, and we have hired 18 new lifeguards during our trip to the Philippines. They will arrive in Dubai very soon to be trained and get started.”

Lifeguards are employed on the three recreational beaches in Dubai including Jumeirah Beach Park, Umm Suqeim Beach and Al Mamzar Beach.

In line with the efforts to increase the presence of lifeguards on public beaches, lifeguards have been installed at several open beaches over the years, such as Jumeirah Open Beach.

With the cooling down of temperatures in the emirate the beach is once again becoming a popular destination for residents and visitors alike. At the same time, people continue to drown off the coastline and beach safety remains an issue to be addressed.

In the first seven months of this year, two people drowned while 45 were saved from drowning but suffered injuries in the emirate of Dubai, according to Dubai Police.

Despite the presence of lifeguards, warning signs and restricted areas for swimmers fatal accidents seem to be a recurrent phenomenon. This is mostly because people do not take the safety measures in considerations, claim officials.

“We close one part of the beach and leave another open, yet people tend to opt for the restricted area,” said Al Fardan.

“Similarly, swimming during the night is prohibited, but people do it anyway.”

In order to stay safe on the beach on in the sea, the following safety tips cannot be emphasised enough.

A rip current

All too often a rip current is at play when a person gets into trouble while swimming in the sea. A rip current occurs when a strong sea current moves in the opposite direction of the shoreline.

Rip currents or undertows are likely to occur near the shoreline and are strongest close to the surface. A swimmer caught in a current will feel a strong force pulling him/her away from the shore.

As frightening as this may sound, it is relatively easy to escape the current and return to safe waters, by swimming parallel to the shore until the force is no longer felt.

The mistake people make is to swim towards the shore, which is likely to be impossible. The swimmer panics or gets exhausted, and this is how drowning occurs, have lifeguards explained.

Red, green, or blue flag

Flags posted on the beach indicate the weather conditions of that day. These are important indicators, as the sea might be too rough to invite swimmers.

“We work in cooperation with the National Center for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS). Every morning before we open a public beach, we first inquire about the weather conditions,” said Al Fardan.

Different flag colours indicate different weather conditions. A red flag indicates a rough sea, and in such case swimming is dangerous and not recommended. Recently, authorities have gone as far as suggesting a fine should be issued when people swim in areas where a red flag is posted, a measure currently under review.

A yellow flag might be hoisted. This indicates a medium hazard, which does not mean swimming is not permitted. However, swimmers should be cautious. Not entering the sea alone and attending children while swimming at all times are some extra safety measures.

When the sea is calm and swimming is relatively safe, a green flag will be seen.

Lately, a new colour has been added to the beach scene; on some areas a blue flag might be spotted. The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to beaches by the Foundation of Environmental Education.

In order for a beach to qualify, it needs to comply with 32 requirements. An adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment must be available at the beach, as well as first aid equipment. There must be management of beachgoers and events to prevent conflicts and accident, and supply of drinking water should be available at the beach, states the FEE on its website. Thus, a blue flag can only be a good sign.

Where not to swim?

In some areas, swimming is prohibited altogether. This might be for several reasons, such as a rocky surface underneath the water, or dangerous breakwater. This will be indicated with sign posts and should be taken serious.

More recently, dedicated areas have sprung up for several water sport activities. Water sports such as jet skiing, surfing, or boating can pose a threat to a regular swimmer, and several accidents have taken place in the past.

On many beaches, a demarcation line has been drawn to separate to water sport enthusiasts from the regular beachgoer. These restrictions are there to guarantee your safety, and should be adhered to.

Finally, it is always saver to swim in an area monitored by life guards. Although the number of people drowning is high, most of these people are rescued thanks to the careful attention of the lifeguard on duty.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.