Africa-Press – Cape verde. The eight-meter vessel destined for the Civil Protection service, municipal firefighters and the Maritime Port Institute (IMP) will be operational and ready to be used from January to monitor the coast and bathing beaches.
The information was released on Thursday by the mayor of São Filipe, Nuías Silva, at the closing of a training course for swimmers/lifeguards, as part of the partnership with the IMP.
The mayor hopes, within the scope of the protocol, to put the vessel, which is “properly equipped”, into operation from January 2024 for coastal inspection activities, rapid rescue searches in complementarity with vessels from other institutions such as the National Police , in order to cover a larger area.
The partnership between the IMP and the city of São Filipe aimed to train at least 25 young people in the area of swimmers/lifeguards, but according to the president it was only half done, between recycling and initial training, highlighting the importance of the role of swimmers /salvadores in open waters and swimming pools, aiming to have a municipality with a better guarantee of safety for people who visit bathing beaches and swimming pools.
“The law requires that any swimming pool must have at least one trained technician to assist in the pool and we have more than 20 swimming pools across the island, many of which are commercial in nature”, said Nuías Silva, indicating that it is a “great opportunity ” for the IMP and the chamber to raise awareness and notify the spaces they open to the public of the need to comply with the law and hire trained people to provide permanent services or on weekends.
On the other hand, he said that the council will recruit one or two swimmers/lifeguards to join the fire department on a permanent basis, highlighting that the municipality is counting on all 12 swimmers/lifeguards who completed training for beach surveillance during the period. bathing to “guarantee safety and confidence” for bathers.
Nuías Silva committed to resolving the problem related to the bonus given to swimmers/lifeguards, leaving the guarantee that the amount will be increased and defined even before the start of the next bathing season to ensure surveillance of the beaches, remembering that saving lives are priceless, but he urged swimmers to take into account the reality of the country and the chamber.
The mayor thanked the IMP for the training and for the set of materials and equipment made available that will help the city council to create the conditions to have the beaches visited more often and with swimmers/lifeguards, but also to have swimmers/lifeguards in the municipal pool.
IMP trainer Jandir Leite Pina said that the training was the result of an institutional partnership celebrated this year, but that it has been going on for many years between the IMP and the São Filipe city council to fill this gap which is saving human lives not only in sea bathing areas, but also in the municipal swimming pool, which lacks security.
According to him, the 12 swimmers/lifeguards are “duly qualified” to provide safe work in sea bathing areas.
The protocol between the two institutions, said Jandir Leite de Pina, provides for other training activities, highlighting that from next year synergies and training models will be created as the chamber intends to promote training in the area of diving and water rescue for swimmers/lifeguards and municipal firefighters with a view to creating a water rescue team.
He recalled that the project included the distribution of equipment to swimmers/lifeguards such as clothing, first aid bags, rescue buoys and signs that have already started to signpost the main beaches with bathing rules and procedures.
Ulisses Lopes, one of the trainees, highlighted the importance of training, highlighting that swimmers/lifeguards are properly prepared and equipped to monitor the beaches of São Filipe in the next bathing season and guarantee safety for bathers.
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