B9m boost for beach guard service

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) will spend more than 15 million baht next year on beach guards and equipment to boost water safety at Phuket beaches. OrBorJor Vice-President Soratham Jinda, head of the organization’s water safety project, said today that the boost in funding, up from 6 million baht this year, was approved in light of the beach guards’ impressive performance in reducing the number of drownings during the monsoon season. “This year, between June 1 and September 30, beach guards rescued 139 people,” he said. During this period, four people drowned off Phuket beaches, compared with six during the same period last year. While beach guards will continue to man the beaches until the official end of the monsoon season on October 30, next year they will stay on duty from June 1 until February 28, he said. Their duties will also be expanded to include the general safety of beachgoers, monitoring the beach for signs for trouble, and calling the police when necessary. In Patong, a water safety information center will be set up to provide advice about swimming hazards such as strong waves and undertows, where to swim and the meaning of the beach flag warnings.