“Ready, Set, Go!” Campaign promoting drowning prevention hits Benidorm’s beaches, 21–23 August
The free activity is open to people of all ages and aims to promote safer enjoyment of the water
“Ready, Set, Go!” drowning prevention campaign comes to Benidorm from 21 to 23 August.
The “Ready, Set, Go!” drowning prevention campaign, organised by Fundación MAPFRE in collaboration with the Lifeguarding Group of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), will be in Benidorm from 21 to 23 August. The campaign is “an awareness-raising and training initiative aimed at preventing drownings and improving the public’s response to these emergencies,” said Mónica Gómez, Councillor for Beaches.
The campaign aims to provide the public with essential knowledge on prevention, safe rescue techniques and first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), through free, practical activities accessible to people of all ages. On Friday 21 and Saturday 22 August, the campaign will be at Levante Beach from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday 23 August, it will move to Poniente Beach from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The campaign will take place in a beachside area featuring three themed tents and free activities for everyone. “Each participant can explore the three learning areas, which have been designed to provide practical advice that can be applied to real-life situations,” Gómez explained.
In the “Ready” section, participants learn how to check sea conditions before entering the water, respect beach flags and the instructions of lifeguards, choose supervised swimming areas, avoid swimming alone and risky behaviour, actively supervise children and avoid overestimating their own abilities.
The second section, “Set”, explains that helping someone does not always mean entering the water. In this regard, the councillor stressed that “the first thing to do when someone is in danger is to call 112 for help, alert a lifeguard, keep the person in sight and use flotation devices from a safe position.”
Finally, the “Go” section highlights the importance of acting quickly, contacting the emergency services as soon as possible and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when necessary.
Mónica Gómez pointed out that drownings “are a significant public health issue and, contrary to common perception, can occur quickly, silently and be difficult to identify, even within a matter of seconds.” She added: “Through campaigns like this, we help beachgoers and beach users better understand how to respond to a potential drowning.”
The Councillor for Beaches also stressed that “prevention, active supervision and an appropriate response are key factors in avoiding serious consequences.” For this reason, she explained, the campaign delivers clear, evidence-based messages, enabling everyone to identify risks, adopt safe behaviours and respond appropriately in an emergency.