New measures to improve safety on the beaches of Catalonia

Tarragona. Costa Dorada. 22nd May 2012. The General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) and representatives to specific working group on security measures and protection of beaches and bathing places in Catalonia have prepared a list with the minimum security measures recommended on the beach (which is available since this summer). The working group on security measures and protection of beaches and bathing places in Catalonia is comprised of organizations that have direct involvement in beach management: Catalan Federation of Lifesaving, the Catalan Association of Rescue Water, the Red Cross of Catalonia, the Federation of Municipalities of Catalonia, the Catalan Association of Municipalities, the Province of Barcelona, ​​the Catalan Water Agency, the Police of the Government - Autonomous Police, the Directorate General Prevention, Fire and Rescue, Emergency Medical System (SEM), and the General Directorate of Civil Protection. For the next year, 2013, the Working Group established to prepare a draft order, which comprehensively regulate the safety of the beaches and incorporate preventive measures. Besides these two basic guidelines, the project of establishing a clear and consistent legal framework related to the safety of the beaches, is also working on the design and implementation of an information campaign aimed at raising awareness of both local and tourist population, often known as the data source of the traffic light or flags that the emergency telephone number is 112. Another important project is the implementation of a system of centralization and processing information on significant incidents, from the standpoint of civil protection, to the beaches of Catalonia. Moreover, also include measures that will be implemented this summer related to the increased coordination and monitoring of incidents on the beaches and the state, with the Emergency Coordination Centre of Catalonia CECAT DGPC. Thus, the next beach season (June, July and August), the CECAT (which has two rooms, one in the building and another 112 from Reus to its Interior Department, in Barcelona) will be allocated personal only those functions. News Establishing a list of beaches and risk criteria The establishment of criteria for risk on a beach is marked by the criterion of maximum flow in the dates of use. These thresholds are set in the "Order of 31 July 1972 by which norms and guidelines for human safety in bathing sites" and the "Handbook of Coastal Management of the Province of Barcelona. The DGPC made at the beginning of 2010, a questionnaire filled in by all the coastal towns, 70 in total, they were asked where the classification of the beaches (those who have) of According to the thresholds, as well as other miscellaneous information. The survey was approximately 77% and stated that Catalonia has 366 beaches, coves 78 and 12 bathing areas listed mainland. Of these 366 beaches, 170 are high risk, 141 medium risk and 85 have a low risk. As for the coastal towns, the 70, 65 have some type of service and 5 have not. In 30 municipalities, the services give businesses Rescue 8, 33 at the Red Cross does, and the other 2, municipal Civil Protection. Measures recommended The security measures recommended by municipalities refer to the team, monitoring points, the first aid and first aid in the relief ships, vehicles of which must have the beach, the data have contain posters, communications and marking system. As for the team, the recommendations agreed by the beaches of medium and high risk. For low-risk beaches, is at the discretion of the municipality. Thus, the beaches of high and medium risk should have 1 supervisor for every beach, 1 point for each lifeguard surveillance, 1 pattern and 1 lifeguard for every boat, 1 rescuer for health care for every 2 points surveillance (1 if there is only one point). All staff must be of age, must have at least the title of lifeguard and water activities must be properly identified and uniformed. Also must have the minimum equipment: Rescue tube, fins, mask and snorkel, portable first aid kit, whistle and binoculars. The recommendations in the points of visibility monitoring establish that the beaches must have a high risk surveillance every 1 point as far as 400m. As for the beaches of medium risk, they should have 1 point each surveillance 800m maximum. As for low risk is at the discretion of the municipality. With regard to first aid and first aid is considered necessary only for beaches with high risk and specifically what type of equipment should have. These beaches must have 1 first aid and first aid, which guarantees a response time of less than 4 minutes. Each first aid and first aid must be located in an easily accessible, signed and adapted to disabled, must have a team of communications, a direct telephone link with the 112 and PA. In addition, the equipment must have minimum potable running water, electricity, room care with the right features at the site responsible for the material care, spinal board with positive buoyancy, rigid stretcher, immobilizer column, game orthopedic splints and collars of all sizes, complete kit with two fixed outputs of oxygen, portable oxygen equipment complete with manual ball and respiratory cannula Guedel of all sizes and spare bottle of oxygen, defibrillator equipment Machine (DEA), wheelchair, shopping and salvage individual guide rope rescue, and guardapits lifeguard rescue board or plate depending on the type of beach. The recommendations in the field of rescue boats: they are mandatory in cases of beaches classified high risk. Should there be 1 boat for every beach, shared or not, according to the characteristics of the beach. Meet specifications in the case of ships set to be a vehicle to travel by sea, jet or propeller type with protective or watercraft equipped with bunk beds and equipped with rescue equipment, rescue and evacuation, and marine radio waterproof, must have also the same team that rescue points and surveillance also guardapits lifeguard and rescue bag with floating head. Vehicles in the area of ​​the recommendations affecting the beaches of high risk. Should there be 1 vehicle for each beach, which can be shared according to the characteristics of the beach. Must be a suitable vehicle for getting around the area in particular. Regarding the information sign, states that there should be 1 in every information sign and there should be access to all beaches, so the risk of high, medium and low. Each poster must have the following information: graphic description of the beach flags and their meaning, location of monitoring points and aid stations and first aid, limits the area under surveillance, rescue service period and times, phone 112 emergency and location of the nearest public telephone. If the beach is closed must specify the reason for the closure and possible reopening date. If the beach is not patrolled will be noted. Finally, the recommendations set out the criteria to follow in the papers and the marking, limited to the beaches of medium and high risk. Communications established the need for a radio communications system between lifeguard / s, monitoring points, aid stations and first aid, and live with the 112 as well as a PA system.

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