Filenews 5 August 2023 - by Despina Psillou
In the crystal clear waters of organized beaches of Cyprus, 18 people lost their lives in the last year and a half, with lifeguards intervening in 418 critical incidents.
According to data obtained by "F", most drownings occurred in the Famagusta district, which also faces the most staffing gaps, having eight beaches without lifeguarding.
According to a competent officer of the Ministry of Interior, today a total of about 360 lifeguards are employed and there is a need for another 70. However, finding lifeguards causes a headache for the state during the summer season, as either there is no interest in the seasonal positions of 3-4 months, or the recruitment criteria are not met. Due to the situation, the interior ministry did not rule out the possibility of seeking lifeguards even from other EU member states.
According to data obtained by "F", during 2022 to July 2023, most drowning incidents occurred in the Famagusta district, where 7 were recorded last year (one outside lifeguard coverage hours and one outside the tower's control limits) and 3 this year. Next is the district of Larnaka with 4 drownings last year and 2 this year. In the Limassol district no drownings were recorded last year, but there were 2 this year. On the contrary, the districts of Pafos and Nicosia (Pyrgos and Pignia) do not record drownings in the period under review.
As far as rescues are concerned, again the Famagusta district has the most incidents and even by far from the others, as last year they amounted to 290 and this year to 70. It is followed by the Limassol district with 30 rescues last year and 11 this year. The district of Larnaka with 8 last year and 4 this year. In the district of Nicosia there were a total of 5 rescues, while in Paphos there were no serious incidents that required the intervention of lifeguards.
"There is a loss of staff who will be employed on quarterly and four-month contracts. The required interest is not expressed or even the interested parties do not have the prerequisite qualifications," he noted.
In addition, 77 lifeguards are employed as permanent staff. The district of Paphos has 29, the district of Larnaka 21, the district of Famagusta 17 while the recruitment of another 14 people has been approved, the district of Limassol 10, while the district of Nicosia does not have permanent lifeguards. "Registration actions are being carried out by the Ministry of Interior to clarify the needs for permanent lifeguards in the rest of the provinces as well."
As clarified, the permanent staff after the summer period covers the needs for the beaches declared by decree by the Ministry of Transport as winter swimming. The permanent staff every two years goes through a physical examination in the water, first aid and the use of a defibrillator. "The lifeguard license must be valid at all times. In case the permanent lifeguard does not pass the examination in the water, then he has a second chance. If he is cut off again in the exam, he is removed from the beach and assumes similar duties in the district administration. Seasonal lifeguards are screened at every intake."
Moreover, in response to PASYEK-PEO's recent criticism regarding insufficient lifeguard coverage of beaches, the Ministry of Interior responds that "it is taking continuous actions aimed at upgrading the quality of lifeguard services provided, for the greatest possible provision of safety to bathers on organized beaches".
It is reported that significant steps have been taken forward, both to safeguard the profession of beach lifeguards, through the establishment of a new uniform procedure and recruitment criteria, as well as the upgrading of the scale of the lifeguard position, so that properly trained persons are recruited to staff the beaches."
In addition, new lifeguard equipment was purchased, while at the initiative of the Ministry of Interior, 45 new lifeguard towers have been erected/replaced all over Cyprus in 2022.
The ministry appeals to bathers, for their own safety and protection, to be regularly informed about the beach staffing program, which is regularly updated.
Headache finding qualified lifeguards
There are difficulties in finding lifeguards, it was pointed out in 'F', on the one hand because there is no interest from professionals in the short seasonal positions of 3-4 months and on the other hand because there is a lack of qualified lifeguards.
"The problem lies in the decline in interest in seasonal positions. In some cases we are talking about three- and four-month contracts. However, it is difficult to leave one's job to come as a lifeguard. We usually relied on the descent of students so that those who qualified and were interested could staff the beaches."
Another difficulty lies in the fact of qualifications." According to the criteria that have been defined, in order to undertake duties on a beach one must be the holder of the fourth medal. In case there are deficiencies, approval is given by the Ministry of Interior to exceptionally employ lifeguards with a third medal, provided that the second lifeguard in the tower will have the fourth medal.
Due to the shortcomings observed, prioritization is applied based on the available human resources and the traffic of each beach. "We recognize the need to cover organized beaches and the Ministry is making efforts in this direction. This is the reason for the ongoing announcements for lifeguard positions, but also the decision to increase permanent positions."
The Ministry of Interior and the local district administrations are responsible for the implementation and implementation of the National Beach Safety Plan "SALAMIS", which was approved by the Council of Ministers in 2018 and regulates the lifeguard protection and coverage of organized beaches in Cyprus. SALAMIS was initially piloted by the district administrations of Limassol, Larnaka and Paphos, while from 2022 it was extended and applied to the districts of Famagusta and Nicosia. The cost of lifeguards' payroll is paid 50% by the state and 50% by the competent local authorities
Min of Interior - Lifeguards - scroll down page and you will see schedules [in Greek] for 3 months
