Issue No. 1985
20 - 26 July 2023
COSTA BLANCA SOUTH • EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
THE Red Cross has carried out 66 rescues of bathers at risk of drowning in Alicante Province so far this year, ac cording to the latest figures published by the institution. Staff have also assisted more than 1,000 people with cuts, burns, stings from marine ani mals or heat stroke, and have transferred 14 people to hos pitals. On a national level, more than 1,000 Red Cross (Cruz Roja) rescue professionals, in cluding lifeguards, health per sonnel, drivers, and boat per sonnel ensure safe bathing on 220 beaches on the peninsula and islands. Although most of the healthcare is related to stings, sprains, dislocations and oth er accidents, an environmen tal factor is also part of the Red Cross presence on Span ish beaches. Public awareness of litter and beach cleaning are also undertaken. In addi tion to first aid and rescue tasks, the Red Cross also helps locate lost children. So far this
Credit: Cruz Roja
RED CROSS RESCUES
Red Cross lifeguards on patrol.
year, more than 82 boys and girls have been located and returned to their families. In parallel, the beach staff also carry out important awarenessraising work with preventative messages, such as avoiding heat stroke, avoiding stings and being aware of dangers in the sea. “Sometimes it seems that the sea is calm and people risk bathing, but it may be polluted or have a multitude of jellyfish. In these cases, pre
ventive warnings are even more essential to avoid acci dents,” said Miguel Ángel Sánchez, head of Red Cross Beaches One of the most crucial Red
Cross programmes is Mar itime Rescue, where the Red Cross has six bases with nauti cal emergency response boats situated along the coastline.
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