• Català
  • Castellano
  • English

Formentera kids see day in the life of island's lifeguards

Escola de socorrisme 2 2017The Formentera Council's lifeguard service has opened its escola de socorristes, or “lifeguard school,” to children in summer schools and sports camps on the island. The goal, said service chief Marco Antonio Lage, is to give Formentera's youngsters a glimpse of the lifeguard profession and important water-risk prevention tools. “Prevention,” explained Lage, “can be as simple as understanding that the red flag means don't swim”.

Last Friday the escola took its first group to spend a day at Es Cavall den Borràs beach. Lifeguard staff explained a typical day's work and went into subjects like rescue material and how to use it, the meaning of the different coloured flags and tips to remember on arrival (protection against sunburn). The lifeguards-in-training also heard about the importance of Posidonia oceanica seagrass in local waters and took part in a hands-on demo.

The escola will reopen for classes on two Fridays, August 11 and 25.