Phuket Lifeguards Save 333 Swimmers After Return To Beaches

[webfact]

Phuket lifeguards save 333 swimmers after return to beaches

Phuket Gazette

Lifeguards saved 333 people in the 31 days following their official return to the beaches. Photo: OrbBorJor PR

Once checked by native speakers the new warning signs, displaying 11 languages, will be put to use. Photo: OrbBorJor PR

PHUKET: -- Officially back on the beaches May 28, after another contract signing saga, Phuket lifeguards saved 333 people in the following 31 days, according to an announcement made by Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Paiboon Upatising yesterday.

“Despite the work of the lifeguards, four people have drowned this year. They drowned because they either ignored the red warning flags or went swimming at night,” President Paiboon said.

“I’d like to ask all people and organizations connected with tourism to warn tourists of the potential dangers [on the coastline]. I’d also like for local government officials and beach vendors to coordinate better with lifeguards when it comes to warning tourists.

“In some countries lifeguards have the right to arrest people who ignore their warnings, but in Thailand they can’t,” President Paiboon added.

Under the conditions of the new contract Phuket Lifeguard Service Co Ltd is able to employ 106 staff, both lifeguards and management, at 33 stations on 13 beaches throughout the island.

The lifeguard stations are divided among the three Phuket districts, with 12 covering the southern end of the island in Muang; eight in Kathu covering central Phuket and 13 serving Thalang in the north.

“We have three lifeguards in each station working from 9am to 7pm watching for swimmers in trouble,” said Phuket Lifeguard Service Co Ltd manager Wirote Sawaengphol.

This year, lifeguards have increased the number of red flags being used three-fold.

Red flags, meaning “No Swimming”, are placed to inform potential victims that dangerous currents, submerged rocks and other threats lurk offshore. A yellow flag indicates the area is not supervised by lifeguards, but one may swim with caution. Flags which are yellow and red planted in the sand tell swimmers that lifeguards are on duty and observing the area between the yellow-red flags.

“In both monsoon season and high season, we can’t guarantee swimmers’ safety. There are so many variables, such as jellyfish or other poisonous sea animals, even someone's underlying medical condition can cause them to drown,” explained Mr Wirote.

“Having lifeguards on duty is really the last ditch effort to saving someone’s life. We’re trying to solve the problem at the wrong end. The best way to warn tourists [and prevent drownings] is through the tour agencies and hotels, as they have a closer relationship with the tourists,” he said

Phuket Lifeguard Club President Prathaiyut “Nut” Chuayuan told the Gazette on July 17 that they were now working on the new warning signs to be installed on Phuket beaches.

The 80 by 60 centimeter signs will carry warnings in 11 languages: Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Russian, Arabic, Italian and Hindi.

“As soon as we get the wording checked by a native speaker of each language the signs will be ready for use. We intend to place the signs next to the red warning flags,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16456.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-07-19

[smileplur]

Good news indeed!

[Kerryd]

Hmmm, They are saving they have been saving an average of just over 10 people per day since they signed their new contract ? How many drowned in the time between that signing and the previous contract ? According to this link: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-lifeguards-battling-phuket-beach-patrols-15978/ they had been "off the job" for 6 weeks as of 17 May. Add another 11 days from then until the new contract was signed.

So are they trying to tell us that during the (53ish) days they were not on the job, we didn't have an average of 10+ people per day drowning ? But they have been saving an average of 10+ per day since they've been back ? Did people just not swim during those 53 days ? Or were they just considerate enough to not drown during that time ? Or were there an average of 10+ drownings per day that just weren't getting reported ? You'd think that eventually someone would notice that many bodies washing up on the beaches, but apparently not.

(Or of course, perhaps someone is just fudging the numbers a bit in order to make things look good for their next contract negotiation.)

[LucidLucifer]

It's a refreshing change to hear of something positive happening in Phuket.

[fiddlehead]

Hmmm, They are saving they have been saving an average of just over 10 people per day since they signed their new contract ? How many drowned in the time between that signing and the previous contract ? According to this link: http://phuketwan.com...-patrols-15978/ they had been "off the job" for 6 weeks as of 17 May. Add another 11 days from then until the new contract was signed.

So are they trying to tell us that during the (53ish) days they were not on the job, we didn't have an average of 10+ people per day drowning ? But they have been saving an average of 10+ per day since they've been back ? Did people just not swim during those 53 days ? Or were they just considerate enough to not drown during that time ? Or were there an average of 10+ drownings per day that just weren't getting reported ? You'd think that eventually someone would notice that many bodies washing up on the beaches, but apparently not.

(Or of course, perhaps someone is just fudging the numbers a bit in order to make things look good for their next contract negotiation.)

You seem to be assuming that everyone they are saving would have drowned if they would not have been there.

Assume what you want.

I personally know surfers who saved many people who were in trouble.

They (and I) are very glad that the lifeguards are back on the beaches, watching the hundreds of swimmers, moving their yellow and red flags, warning swimmers of jellyfish when necessary, attempting to keep people swimming in the safer areas, etc.

[starkey_rich]

I have seen them pull out 3 idiots on Nai Harn this week.

They seem to have become a lot more assertive when telling people to get out of the water as well.

Good work guy's.

[pistachios]

They used google translate for the sign... French and Italians will be happy to know that there is no swimming pool on the beach

[grumpyoldman]

Hmmm, They are saving they have been saving an average of just over 10 people per day since they signed their new contract ? How many drowned in the time between that signing and the previous contract ? According to this link: http://phuketwan.com...-patrols-15978/ they had been "off the job" for 6 weeks as of 17 May. Add another 11 days from then until the new contract was signed.

So are they trying to tell us that during the (53ish) days they were not on the job, we didn't have an average of 10+ people per day drowning ? But they have been saving an average of 10+ per day since they've been back ? Did people just not swim during those 53 days ? Or were they just considerate enough to not drown during that time ? Or were there an average of 10+ drownings per day that just weren't getting reported ? You'd think that eventually someone would notice that many bodies washing up on the beaches, but apparently not.

(Or of course, perhaps someone is just fudging the numbers a bit in order to make things look good for their next contract negotiation.)

KerryD, no offense intended, but of your 6400+ posts, who are you?

First time ever I've seen you in the Phuket Forum, again all due respect.

Many of us here are actually in Phuket, and please be clear, we see and talk to these lifeguards, we also see the bonehead drunks from abroad who can't swim, liquored up at 12 noon, getting in the water with 2 meter plus surf and currents.

And you're here to bag on the best chances Phuket has of unnecessary drownings?

[KeyserSoze01]

So how many died while they were taking their respite?

[Operator2002]

This sign board has awful translation into Russian though I think the text is not so important there

[Hostile17]

just change red flags to a pirate flag or put the picture of a bloated victim of drowning

[NomadJoe]

Hmmm, They are saving they have been saving an average of just over 10 people per day since they signed their new contract ? How many drowned in the time between that signing and the previous contract ? According to this link: http://phuketwan.com...-patrols-15978/ they had been "off the job" for 6 weeks as of 17 May. Add another 11 days from then until the new contract was signed.

So are they trying to tell us that during the (53ish) days they were not on the job, we didn't have an average of 10+ people per day drowning ? But they have been saving an average of 10+ per day since they've been back ? Did people just not swim during those 53 days ? Or were they just considerate enough to not drown during that time ? Or were there an average of 10+ drownings per day that just weren't getting reported ? You'd think that eventually someone would notice that many bodies washing up on the beaches, but apparently not.

(Or of course, perhaps someone is just fudging the numbers a bit in order to make things look good for their next contract negotiation.)

You seem to be assuming that everyone they are saving would have drowned if they would not have been there.

Assume what you want.

I personally know surfers who saved many people who were in trouble.

They (and I) are very glad that the lifeguards are back on the beaches, watching the hundreds of swimmers, moving their yellow and red flags, warning swimmers of jellyfish when necessary, attempting to keep people swimming in the safer areas, etc.

Yeah, a bit very silly to assume that if not rescued by the guards each of the 333 would have drowned. These are people that looked like they are in trouble, and the receive assistance from the . Going by normal low season numbers, would have probably been 3-8 drowned during that time.

Edited July 19, 2012 by NomadJoe

[stevenl]

They used google translate for the sign... French and Italians will be happy to know that there is no swimming pool on the beach

This sign board has awful translation into Russian though I think the text is not so important there

The 80 by 60 centimeter signs will carry warnings in 11 languages: Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Russian, Arabic, Italian and Hindi.

“As soon as we get the wording checked by a native speaker of each language the signs will be ready for use. We intend to place the signs next to the red warning flags,” he said.