Phuket Lifeguards Return To Beaches

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Phuket lifeguards return to beaches

Phuket Gazette

If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the coastline and land further down the beach, advises Uten Singsom, head lifeguard at Kata-Karon. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

Despite the dangerous surf, many tourists are still prepared to risk their lives for a dip in the sea. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: Fully equipped lifeguards are now back on duty at Phuket beaches, ready to rescue swimmers who get into difficulty during the currently treacherous weather.

Uten Singsom, head of the Phuket Lifeguard Club unit at Kata-Karon, told the Gazette, “This year we are going to have a new uniform and new flags. Both will be ready next week. Last year the warnings were written in Thai and English. I am not sure if they will add Russian to the warning signs this year.”

Mr Uten noted that despite the bad weather, tourists were not paying any attention to the red warning flags and still entering the sea.

“If tourists would just read the beach signs and flags it would help. If they followed the rip current emergency procedure it would give the lifeguards time to reach them.

“The worst thing to do in a rip current is to attempt to swim directly back to the beach. Instead they should swim parallel to the coastline and land further down the beach,” he said.

The negative attitude of some tourists toward the lifeguards was not helpful, he added.

“Sometimes lifeguards blow whistles to warn tourists that they are getting too far from the shore and risk not being able to make it back if they go any further out to sea, but the tourists react like they are are angry at the lifeguards,” Mr Uten said.

“I understand tourists come here for vacation and fun on the beach, but safety is important as well,” he added.

Although, lifeguard patrols resumed in full today with all stations manned and fully equipped, it was too late to prevent the deaths of two French tourists who drowned in separate incidents at Freedom Beach and Karon Beach last week.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article16060.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-05-29

[easybullet3]

They returned to work?

does this mean that there were no lifeguards previously?

why are there no lifeguards on a BUSY TOURIST BEACH ???

- and what is so difficult to add Russian Language to a bunch of signs? have you seen how many Russians are in Thailand? Surely they also have a right to knowing how to protect their families. Russians are new to the Beach Culture! Westerners already know the approximate rules of the sea, whereas many russians may not have a clue what is or isnt safe.

I would say that Russian notices are IMPORTANT!

[JulesMad]

In general, it can be said that most tourists are very stupid. After all, they are human (at least most of them).

If they choose to ignore warnings, flags, (wise) advice from locals, then it is 'up to them' to get drowned. Som nam na!

Why do we have to feel sorry for all these stupid people?

Russian are a separate breed of humans. You can tell them something (most likely they do not listen anyway...), but they do whatever they want.

Why new signs in Russian??? There are no signs in my language as well, but I am smart enough to learn at least one language (so I can COMMUNICATE and UNDERSTAND)

[CantSpell]

They returned to work?

does this mean that there were no lifeguards previously?

why are there no lifeguards on a BUSY TOURIST BEACH ???

- and what is so difficult to add Russian Language to a bunch of signs? have you seen how many Russians are in Thailand? Surely they also have a right to knowing how to protect their families. Russians are new to the Beach Culture! Westerners already know the approximate rules of the sea, whereas many russians may not have a clue what is or isnt safe.

I would say that Russian notices are IMPORTANT!

- No life guard since 01st May yes; same as every years: local government launched a "public offer" to try to get cheaper price but it seems there is no other life-guard company so 1 month wasted....

- Can assure you that nearly all westerners have no clue about any rule of the sea and particularly about rip currents and what to do if caught in one... sadly..