Lifeguards of the Volunteer Water Rescue Service complain about a new dangerous trend – organized groups and colonies use unguarded bathing areas. Some educators don’t even pay attention to the red flag. WOPR people warn that if the situation does not change, there will eventually be a tragedy.
WOPR in KoĊobrzeg alerts about reprehensible and irresponsible behavior of organized groups, also with children. Not only do they enter the water at unguarded bathing areas, but often with a red flag displayed, i.e. when bathing conditions are dangerous.
See also: How to ensure safety on the water?
They intervene daily
As reported by Bartosz Bartkowiak, TVN24 reporter, rescuers assess these situations as “punishable”. They warn that they are irresponsible and can end tragically.
– On average, we have to admonish such groups once or twice a day, both during our work, i.e. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but also during intervention patrols from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. – says Piotr KukieĊczyĊski, a WOPR lifeguard in KoĊobrzeg.
Lifeguards inform the guardian how a safe bath for organized groups should look like. – The guardian or the leader of the group or camp should approach the guarded position to the lifeguard and there, after agreeing on the bathing conditions, he can enter the water – informs KukieĊczyĊski.
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Consequences for the organizer
Unfortunately, it happens, however, that WOPR intervention does not bring results. According to the law, they cannot force carers to behave responsibly, although the regulations clearly state that organized groups should use guarded bathing areas. In such a situation, rescuers can call the police, and they can list the guardian. The case may be reported to the school board, and this will punish the organizer of the camp or colony.
As the lifeguards emphasize, they will help everyone, including people on unguarded parts of the beach, but they are already tired, so any irresponsible behavior, especially with larger groups, may reduce the chances of a successful rescue operation.
According to the statistics of the National Police Headquarters, 55 people have already drowned in Poland since the beginning of July, and 103 people have drowned since the beginning of June.
Main photo source: tvn24