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Sharjah campaign to keep beach-goers safe

The municipal authorities and police in Sharjah have joined hands to intensify efforts to prevent drowning incidents at beaches. A top official said pamphlets are being distributed at beaches to raise the awareness of visitors on ways to stay safe.
Mubarak Rashid Al Shamsi, director of the Hamriyah Municipality, said: "We conduct several preventive and awareness programmes in coordination with the Sharjah Police. We warn beach goers about the risk of currents in seas and what to do if they experience it."
With the advent of the summer season, the beaches at Hamriya see visitors arrive early in the morning after the dawn prayers. "They stay on well until midnight. We have intensified efforts to protect them against all kinds of beach accidents."

Sharjah's tips to stay safe > Follow instructions while swimming > Swim only in areas where life guards are available > Don't swim right after having a meal > Don't smoke before swimming > Wear a swimming jacket > Avoid swimming alone

An official at the Sharjah Municipality said instruction signboards have been set up in areas that see dangerous water currents. "We have cordoned off a part of Al Mamzar Beach to prevent residents from riding their jet skis in the area because of its dangerous currents. Jet skis are also banned from areas that see a lot of swimmers," he said.
Lt. Saud Al Shaiba, director of awareness department, said the police's rescue unit has responded to 21 reports of drowning in the first six months of 2018. "Several people were rescued as a result of the quick response of units deployed at Al Hamriya, Al Khan and Al Heera beaches."
Some residents drowned because the "victims hadn't taken the adequate safety and preventative measures", he added.
He said the police have adequate equipment to deal with marine emergencies, including six large rescue boats containing primary aid kits, oxygen gas cylinders and medical equipment. The police also have seven rubber boats, three jet skis and eight water bicycles.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

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