Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga today presented 100 new life-saving units, a handy smart and reusable portable lifebuoy, which inflates 4 seconds after it meets the water, to members of sea rescue and emergency teams. The council also raised both the blue flags on Adeje beaches - the blue flags are given to beaches which meet high standards of cleanliness, safety and water quality among other things. Present at the events with the mayor were the councillors for Tourism, Adolfo Alonso Ferrera, for security Mercedes Vargas Delagado, and for health, Amada Trujillo Bencomo.
“The Blue Flag is an important accreditation and more in these complicated days we are living through, as it signifies that the authorities are overseeing and caring for their beaches, and offering a public service as well, with special Covid-19 measures in place”, said the mayor. “It is good time to send a message that we are a safe destination, that our beaches are safe and that we are working to make sure they are also nice places to visit”. Regarding the tourism sector, he said it was recovering well; “right now we have about 20 hotels that are open and we hope the trend continues over the coming months. The hotel beds are in demand, our image abroad is a good one and we have to maintain that, as this has a direct impact on our economic health. There are things we cannot control, but right now the trends are positive”.
Although the Blue Flags were actually awarded a few weeks ago, to the Torviscas and El Duque beaches, for a number of scheduling reasons the actual symbolic raising of the flag in the presence of local authorities could only take place today, with representatives of those managing the beaches in question also present, and members of local security and emergency bodies.
Following the raising of the flags, the authorities went to La Caleta where the mayor presented the newly acquired OneUP units to the local police, the civil protection unit, lifeguards and the volunteer fire brigade. “We are increasing our resources both in increased personnel and materials. We are interested in new tools that will help us save lives. On this occasion too we are talking about a unit that has been designed and made in the Canary Islands”. The mayor also had special mention for Adeje lifeguard Kevin Ramos who, outside his working hours, went to the rescue of a boy in danger of drowning off the Callao Salvaje beach. “And it’s not just Kevin, but all members of the forces who put their lives in danger to save others – there is a generosity of spirit there that we have to recognise and commend.”
Following the presentation the lifeguard representatives demonstrated how the new portable lifebuoy works with a simulated rescue alongside the La Caleta pier.
Automatic inflatable lifebuoys
Adeje council has acquired 100 OneUP units, a handy smart and reusable portable lifebuoy, which inflates 4 seconds after it meets the water. This is a Canarian product with an international patent, distributed by Náutica el Pris in Spain and the USA. This unit weight only 370 grams, is 17 cm and can be thrown up to 40 metres and offers floating security in pool or sea, so helping someone stay afloat until they can reach a boat or shore or be attended to by the emergency services. So it can be used by any member of the public but is also a terrific extra safety tool for lifeguards. The Cruz Roja (red cross) and Sea rescue services have now also been equipped with these lifebuoys.
According to the Náutica el Pris company “this is 20 times smaller than a conventional lifebuoy…in the past it was inconceivable that a police car could also carry a lifebuoy , even though they are often the first on the scene, but today they can have a few of these in the glove compartment.”
Blue Flags, Torviscas and El Duque
In June Adeje was awarded two blue flags that they had applied for, for the Torviscas and El Duque beaches. Both beaches met all the requirements laid down by the blue flag organisation.
Among the services you do need to offer to the public to be eligible for a blue flag are information and education about the surrounding environment, good water quality, safety and security services, the presence of lifeguards and information panels in different languages.
Department of Communications
