PAPHOS DISTRICT GOVERNOR- 8 OUT OF 33 LIFEGUARD TOWERS IN PAPHOS CLOSED - Pafos Press 17/8
The problem of the lack of lifeguards in the Paphos district remains acute, with eight out of a total of 33 lifeguard towers remaining closed due to insufficient staffing. Of the 104 approved lifeguard positions, 82 people have been hired to date, with the Deputy Paphos District Governor Froso Georgiou appealing for greater interest, especially from young people, so that human resources can be strengthened and more towers can operate on the beaches.
Speaking to CNA, Ms. Georgiou said that the interest in submitting applications is not what was expected, noting that “we are not finding people” to staff the lifeguard towers.
As she explained, in the Paphos district there are a total of 33 lifeguard towers, of which 25 are staffed and operating, while eight remain closed. The manning of the towers is done based on specific criteria and taking into account, among other things, the number of visitors and the traffic on the beaches.
The lack of personnel, according to the Deputy Paphos District Commissioner, is what creates the problem and does not allow all the towers in the district to open.
Meanwhile, the approved lifeguard positions in the Paphos district amount to 104, however, to date 82 people have been hired, which demonstrates the gap that exists and the limited interest in staffing the service.
Of the 82 positions that have been filled, eight are permanent, 53 are for eight months, 19 are for six months, one is for four months and one is for three months.
Ms. Georgiou noted that the issue of finding lifeguards cannot be addressed exclusively by the Ministry or the District Administration. She said that greater mobilization is required from groups and private entities, as well as better information for young people about the opportunities offered by this profession.
The Deputy District Governor said that a greater effort should be made to inform more young people so that they know that lifeguarding is a profession that can be practiced either on a permanent or seasonal basis.
At the same time, there are opportunities for training and attending courses for those interested in acquiring the required qualifications and applying for a position.
She said that she has already contacted various groups in order to announce the opening of applications and encourage more interested parties to participate in the process.
“I am making informal interventions to have as many as possible,” said Ms. Georgiou, emphasizing the need to increase the number of applications, so that there is a larger pool of candidates for evaluation and selection.
Regarding the selection process for lifeguards, Ms. Georgiou said that today it is much more organized and demanding compared to the past.
The process follows the “Salamis” Plan and includes a series of assessments. Initially, candidates undergo a physical examination at sea, in order to assess their abilities and their ability to respond to the special conditions prevailing in the marine environment.
At the same time, their knowledge and skills in first aid are examined, while the interview process follows.
The final selection is made based on the criteria set out in the “Salami” Plan, with the aim of selecting individuals who possess the required qualifications and are deemed suitable for manning the lifeguard towers.
As Ms. Georgiou mentioned, in addition to physical abilities and knowledge of first aid, the judgment and personality of the candidates are also assessed. These are particularly important elements, as lifeguards are called upon to make immediate decisions and manage difficult and potentially dangerous situations on the beaches.
“We have capable people, the issue is that we do not have enough”
The Deputy District Governor expressed her satisfaction with the level of lifeguards currently serving in the Paphos district, pointing out that incidents have already been recorded in which lifeguards managed to save human lives.
The successful rescues, she said, confirm that the selection and evaluation process of candidates has reached a “very, very high level”.
“We have reached a very high level and we are very proud”, she said, underlining that the problem does not concern the quality of the lifeguards who are selected, but the number of people available.
“We have competent people, the issue is that we do not have enough”, she noted.
Regarding the financing of the lifeguard service, Ms Georgiou explained that the state covers 50% of the cost through a grant, while the remaining 50% is required to be covered by local authorities.
Local authorities, therefore, have their own financial participation in the operation of lifeguard services on their beaches, which is also linked to the ability to staff and operate the towers.
The Deputy District Commissioner of Paphos reiterated that the main goal is to increase the number of interested parties, to have more applications and to evaluate more candidates.
In this way, as she stated, it will be possible to staff as many of the eight towers that currently remain closed as possible and to further enhance the safety and protection of bathers on the beaches of the Paphos district.
The appeal, therefore, is mainly addressed to young people to learn about the profession, to participate in training programs and to submit an application, as meeting the needs in human resources is now the key factor for the full operation of the lifeguard network of the district.
Kiki Pericleous/ CNA
