No Lifeguards On Phuket Beaches In June

[webfact]

No lifeguards on Phuket beaches in June

PHUKET: -- If you want to swim in the ocean off Phuket in June, be aware that there may be no lifeguards to save you if you get into trouble.

As things stand at present, there are no plans for lifeguards beyond May 27 when the current contract between the the Phuket Lifeguard Club and the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor) expires.

Club President Prathaiyuth Chueayuan told The Phuket News yesterday (May 9) that a meeting had been held regarding renewal but that the club has heard nothing since.

Chaowalit Kiatdate of the OrBorJor told The Phuket News that the contract to provide lifeguards for all of Phuket’s western beaches would be put out to tender “soon”, and is expected to come into force at the beginning of July.

But what will happen between May 27 and July 1? OrBorJor administration official Kanyarat Saenruang admitted, “There will be no lifeguards on the beach during June.”

On Wednesday (May 8), OrBorJor President Paiboon Upatising told The Phuket News that he did not know about progress on the new contract and would have to consult with his staff.

The PLC has been contracted for the past three years, on an annual basis, to keep a watch at Phuket’s beaches, advising when it is not safe to swim, and pulling out of the water those who do not heed the advice.

Already, with the annual switch to the southwest monsoon, the weather along the Andaman Sea coast has deteriorated, bringing wind and waves that take a toll of human life every year.

That toll would be far greater were it not for the efforts of the PLC. Although 14 people drowned between the beginning of the current contract and the end of April, 882 people were saved by the lifeguards – and average of 80 a month.

Mr Prathaiyuth believes that the contract should not only be organised earlier but should also be more more long-term.

“When we have to renew it every year, there is no certainty, and it affects our employees since they don’t know when the contract will be renewed or whether they will still have a job when it expires.

“This has led to many resigning to take work that has greater job security. So we have to train new guards to replace the ones who leave.”

Replacements are not easy to find, he said. Candidates have to show that they swim strongly, and “have the mindset to be a lifeguard. And then we have to train them.

“Last year we deployed a total of 106 staff at 13 beaches along the west coast of Phuket, from Ya Nui Beach in the south to Mai Khao Beach in the north. The number at each beach varies depending on the level of danger of and the local geography.

“In each area, there are three lifeguards at each station. On Patong Beach, for example, there are 15 lifeguard stations, each manned by three people.

“During the monsoon season [from May until October], the most dangerous beach is Karon Beach, because of its length, but every beach can be dangerous – currents are the main factor.”

Apart from the uncertainty of the job, Mr Prathaiyuth said the main problem for life guards is tourists ignoring verbal warning from the guards and not paying attention to the warning signs and flags erected along the beaches.

Red flags, the signs explain in many languages, mean that it is too dangerous to swim. But people still go in the water.

“I would like to ask for the cooperation of all the tourists to be aware of the signs and notices in order to protect lives.

“Also, I would ask the hotels and other businesses close to the beach to warn tourists when it is not safe to go into the water.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/no-lifeguards-on-phuket-beaches-in-june-39363.php


-- Phuket News 2013-05-10

[eezergood]

Didnt we have this LAST year also, then with great hoorah & fanfare back they came . Everybody wai-ing to the great & the good & face was made in abundance..................

[LivinginKata]

3 life guards at each station ...

I have not noticed any life guards for a long time now at Kata beach.

[madmitch]

3 life guards at each station ...

I have not noticed any life guards for a long time now at Kata beach.

They're probably sitting with the tuktuk drivers, as seems to be the case in Karon.

What this whole situation shows is that if there is no money to be made, then there's no interest from the local government.

[Soupdragon]

In the other news the party at the beer factory had to been cancelled as no one brought a bottle opener.

[JetsetBkk]

Didnt we have this LAST year also, then with great hoorah & fanfare back they came . Everybody wai-ing to the great & the good & face was made in abundance..................

Of course. And it will be the same next year.

What's Thai for "forward planning".

[davidmann]

Is Phuget a tourist town ,does it have a sea, then ask the town council ,why does it not have life guards ,visitors and locals ,both thai and westerners spend money ,wage up make them safe ,dead ones are bad for business

[Judo Chop]

The last time I checked, Phuket's beaches were a major draw-card.

Time for the greedy authorities to spend less time promoting the destination and put more money into ensuring the safety of it's lifeblood, the tourist!

Just think of the money and the time and resources they are going to have to invest once the authorities go into full damage control mode after the first couple of deaths occur this season on 'once patrolled beaches'.

Shame.

[Jimi007]

Is Phuget a tourist town ,does it have a sea, then ask the town council ,why does it not have life guards ,visitors and locals ,both thai and westerners spend money ,wage up make them safe ,dead ones are bad for business

Phuket is a Province by the way...

[Jimi007]

The last time I checked, Phuket's beaches were a major draw-card.

Time for the greedy authorities to spend less time promoting the destination and put more money into ensuring the safety of it's lifeblood, the tourist!

Just think of the money and the time and resources they are going to have to invest once the authorities go into full damage control mode after the first couple of deaths occur this season on 'once patrolled beaches'.

Shame.

They don't want to spend money on services or infrastructure. There's no profit in that! And now they don't publish any data about drowning or other accidental deaths since April of 2012. Those numbers projected a bad image of the region... Couldn't have that!

[Westaurel]

One more proof that their personal interests go before safety. Human lives have little value in Thailand, they are so much people that's few people less isn't serious, sad thai reasoning ! Wihout thinking about the tourists who are so much that one missing nobody care about it !

Edited May 10, 2013 by Westaurel

[stevenl]

Didnt we have this LAST year also, then with great hoorah & fanfare back they came . Everybody wai-ing to the great & the good & face was made in abundance..................

Of course. And it will be the same next year.

What's Thai for "forward planning".

Yes, I'm with you on this one.

Edited May 10, 2013 by stevenl

[Greer]

This is a seriously disgusting lack of forethought and planning for a service that saves human life - what a total bunch of no-hopers!

I think that any organisation promoting other countries, should jump on this bandwagon and advertise that THEIR beaches are safe, unlike beaches in some far away countries.....

These guys need a good kick in the backside to MAKE them take notice and fix this - it is idiotic to endanger the lives of your prime source of income through being totally disorganised and through lack of effort.

Absolutely useless!

[Judo Chop]

There are plenty of qualified life savers here in Oz and clearly a large shortage on Phuket.

Why don't the authorities put out the call to volunteers from Australia (maybe offer free accommodation or subsidised airfares)?

Problem solved (for this year at least).

Someone's got to put up those red flags!

Edited May 10, 2013 by Judo Chop

[bubblegum]

Time stands still, year after year the news is the same, no news.