Cristina Hodgson
MALAGA beaches close the 2020 summer season with 3,884 lifeguard interventions compared to 2,976 in 2019.
The Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, accompanied by the Councillor for Beaches, Teresa Porras together with the Andalucian Government’s delegate in Malaga, Patricia Navarro, presented the balance of the Playas 2020 season.
It was a season marked by COVID-19, and all the additional measures taken to ensure that Malaga beaches remain a safe place to enjoy the summer.
Some of the additional measures to help combat COVID-19 have included public toilets, with automatic sanitation systems and the free download app ‘Malaga funciona’ (Malaga works) which has made it possible to provide real-time information on beach occupation.
There was also the incorporation of 130 beach surveillance officers and several vehicles to monitor compliance with the new regulations and to inform and assist beach goers.
According to official breakdown of beach incidents in Malaga, the Lifeguard Service carried out a total of 3,884 interventions, of which 1,441 were on land and 1,219 at sea, and the rest, 1,224, were people treated at first aid posts.
Additionally, there were 97 cases involving lost children, 116 ambulance call outs, as well as 1,704 incidents where information was needed regarding COVID-19 regulations.
Accidents causing minor cuts and wounds were the most frequent injury requiring first aid interventions, as well as dizziness, stings and burns, with one individual attended for a heart attack.
143 bathers were rescued from the water, 706 beach goers received warning of dangers in the water and 370 alerts were issued to boats.
Meanwhile there has been a significant drop in beach litter this year.
A total of 130,160 tonnes of solid urban waste has been removed from Malaga beaches, which is a 44% reduction on last year when 230,980 tonnes were collected.
