Waiting for support: Phuket lifeguards pitch plan to Deputy PM to go pro

[rooster59]

Waiting for support: Phuket lifeguards pitch plan to Deputy PM to go pro 

The Phuket News

 

Phuket lifeguards stand at the ready. More than 700 foreigners were rescued by the island's lifesavers at beaches along the west coast in just the past year alone. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot
 

PHUKET: The International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) has submitted its plan directly to Deputy Prime Minister Gen Thanasak Patimapragorn to upskill Phuket lifeguards to world standard and make the critical life-saving service a professional career on the island.

 

Deputy PM Thanasak specifically asked Phuket’s lifeguards during an inspection tour of Phuket last month. “I am here today to see the situation and hear their concerns in person. It is the main purpose of my visit,” Gen Thanasak told The Phuket News during that visit.

 

“Make a list of what you need for me,” Gen Thanasak told Phuket Lifeguard Chief Prathaiyuth Chuayuan in no uncertain terms.

 

In response, the Surin-Bangtao Surf Lifesaving Club, in conjunction with the International Surf Lifesaving Association, this week issued a 33-page improvement plan directly to Deputy PM Thanasak.

 

In the accompanying letter, ISLA President Henry Reyes describes the plan as “an urgent and necessary step that should be considered immediately, to prevent needless loss of life.

 

“The arrival of the monsoon in May is the beginning of Phuket’s ocean danger season. Therefore, your immediate support to help modernize and improve Phuket’s lifesaving forces is respectfully requested.”

 

The plan specifically lists as its aims to 1) Improve beach safety for lifeguards and visitors; 2) Reduce ocean drowning at lifeguarded beaches (Laem Singh, Surin, Bangtao, Layan); 3) International certification for all Surin-Bangtao SLSC lifeguards; Mett international standards for operations and equipment; and 4) Educate the public about water safety.

 

“The goal… is to use government sponsored ‘Lifeguard 4.0’ upgrades to reduce drowning and injury at our beaches by 50% within three years,” the plan states.

 

Testament to the importance of the service Phuket’s lifeguards provide, from March 19 last year through to Jan 20 this year, the island’s lifeguards rescued 755 people – 49 Thais and 706 foreigners. However, they were unable to save four people from watery deaths during that period.

 

Gen Thanasak’s visit to Phuket last month was in response to Mr Reyes appealing directly to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. Citing hundreds of drownings in Phuket in recent years and little improvement over the past 10 years, Mr Reyes called the ongoing deaths at Phuket’s beaches an “epidemic”.

 

Mr Reyes also pointed out that many of the victims were tourists from Australia, China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.

 

“During the monsoon season from May to November, dangerous ocean currents are created by strong winds and waves. These waves and currents make Phuket’s ocean waters extremely dangerous for beach patrons, especially those with little or no ocean swimming experience,” Mr Reyes wrote.

 

“Since 2010, hundreds of international visitors and Thai citizens have drowned in the ocean waters surrounding Phuket. According to the Thai Ministry of Public Health, drowning is the leading cause of death of Thai children under 16 years old…

 

“It is also a leading cause of death among tourists in Phuket,” he added.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/waiting-for-support-phuket-lifeguards-pitch-plan-to-deputy-pm-to-go-pro-61963.php#XTzSDMZ1GAv31yrl.97

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-04-29

 

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

Given the general lack of public swimming pools in the Kingdom I am surprised that there are Thais with the required swimming skills to qualify as lifeguards. And who examines them?

[fruitman]

2 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Given the general lack of public swimming pools in the Kingdom I am surprised that there are Thais with the required swimming skills to qualify as lifeguards. And who examines them?

The guards will be up to world standard so i guess they have the same rescue-swim certifications as Aussie or Italien beachguards? And can speak some languages of course.

 

 

[55Jay]

We hear about this every year.  Year after year.  You know your government system is completely broken if it takes the DPM's personal involvement and worse, that he can't grasp the fundamental issue and solution from his office in BKK.  It's not rocket science.  But ok, fly down, walk the beach personally, and while the cameras are rolling, wave that benevolent, magic wand and make it rain Baht.   Then return to BKK and forget all about it.

 

If that's the case though, there are a whole lot of incompetent, ineffective jobsworths sucking up government salaries from Phuket all the way up the chain of command to the DPM's office.  What are each of them worth?  15,000 Baht/month?  I would start there.