Water rescue course to promote Phuket beach safety

PHUKET: The Phuket Lifeguard Club will hold its fourth annual five-day surf lifesaving training course this month.

“The surf lifesaving course will be held from August 25 to 29 at Bang Tao Beach. Accommodation and meals will be provided for the entirety of the course, which is sponsored by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization [PPAO],” Phuket Lifeguard Club President Prathaiyut Chuayuan told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

The course is open to anyone who lives in Phuket, but it is recommended that attendees be able to understand and speak Thai, as the instructors will teach the classes in Thai only.

The PPAO started the training course after witnessing an increase in the number of near-drownings and deaths at Phuket beaches over recent years, said Mr Prathaiyut.

“On the first day of training, PPAO Hospital staffers will make sure that all trainees are physically fit and qualified to take part in the course,” said Mr Prathaiyut.

“So far, 20 people have signed up for the training. We have 30 more spots left to fill. Applicants must be healthy, good swimmers, especially in the sea, and have a desire to help people.”

“The goal of the training course is to increase the number of people who are able to employ lifesaving skills in emergency situations. We never know when an accident will happen. The more people we have, the better chance we have to save lives,” said Mr Prathaiyut.

Just last weekend, lifeguards at Surin Beach and a volunteer lifeguard managed to save a Belgian family from a strong rip current (story here).

— Chutharat Plerin