Red Cross lifeguards have concluded this year’s official beach season by rescuing a total of 1,597 people in distress. The lifeguards rescue the people while swimming or practicing a water sport. This figure is a 27% increase compared to 2023, when 1,159 people were helped.
The organisation’s lifeguard and lifeguard teams helped a total of 41,117 people. That´s 4.8% more than in 2023, when it was a total of 39,166 people.
Fewer beaches, more rescue teams
The Red Cross collected this data from the usual official start of the beach season in June until last week. The organisation was active on a total of 142 beaches throughout Spain. That’s two fewer beaches than last year. However, the number of security and lifeguard teams has been increased to 1,422 people. 733 of those rescued had to be taken to a health centre for medical attention, 13% less than last season.
Lost children and boats
This year, Red Cross lifeguards found 633 children lost on the Spanish beaches where it provided services, compared to 557 last year (12% less). In this type of incident, on north-south oriented beaches, the surveillance teams activate all the towers. They begin to comb them out of the beach in a northerly direction, the direction in which lost children instinctively go so that the sun does not blind them. And to make it easier to recognise their relatives.
The Red Cross has also reported 148 rescues involving boats, 14% more than last year, when it responded to 127 such incidents.
Prevention remains important according to Red Cross
The head of Red Cross lifeguards, Miguel Angel Sanchez, emphasises “the importance of one of the most common and widespread practices among the Red Cross lifeguards and lifeguard teams throughout the country. That is to raise awareness and prevent existing risks for those who come to enjoy a dive. Throughout the season, the teams reported 478,845 times of potential risks to swimmers on the 142 beaches where they provided services.
Risks, e.g., from currents and diving
Most of these warnings related to possible currents on the beach, the risk of diving in steep areas, rocky areas or from breakwaters, warning swimmers who endanger their safety, leaving the supervised bathing areas on beaches, diving in the middle of digestion after lunch, or warning of environmental factors that may pose some risk, like heat stroke on the beach, especially when people go alone.
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