Under the watchful eye of the lifeguards, bathers started their baths this year at the organized beaches. The role of lifeguards is particularly critical, since they are the people responsible for the safety of bathers on a coast, especially in a country like Greece, which is mostly surrounded by sea.

The lifeguard leader of the Panhellenic School of Lifesaving, Stylianos Tsalikis, speaks to APE-MBE about the importance of the role of the lifeguard and the actions of the lifeguards: “The lifeguard is important, he prevents the situation and helps the bathers. The lifeguard does save lives. After all, rescue is every act that a lifeguard will do in the water. Even a man cramping in the water and raising his hand, when the lifeguard comes to tow him and get him safely out of the water, that’s a lifesaver because in the next second we don’t know what might happen. befall this man, and what will be his end.”

As he also emphasizes, since June 1, when the season started this year, the lifeguards of the Panhellenic School of Lifesaving have already reached 30 official successful rescues.

Tips for safe swimming

Instructions and advice for safe swimming at the beaches were given by Mr. Tsalikis, who pointed out that “nutrition is very important. Specifically when we eat the main meal, to go to the beach after two and a half hours. But if we want and while we are at the beach, especially the children, we can give some fruit, half a piece of toast. Yes, this is possible, but let’s not eat the main meal and go for a swim. It is also very important to hydrate the body with plenty of water, to wear a hat and of course to always wear sunscreen, before even leaving the house for the beach and then reapplying every 20 minutes.”

For vulnerable groups, the elderly, or people with a medical history, who receive medication, Mr. Tsalikis emphasizes that the best time is to go either in the morning or in the afternoon. In other words, the time between 12 and 4 in the afternoon should be avoided, “because it is difficult for these groups, especially in this period when we have a rise in temperature”.

What do the three flags mean – green, yellow and red

According to Mr. Tsalikis, when they are observed extreme weather eventswith showers and storms, as recently, “we must also consult the lifeguard in these conditions.”

“Always” explains Stylianos Tsalikis, “we check our beach, when there is a lifeguard, at the tower and look at the flags. To go and ask how the beach is and if we can swim. There are three flags, green, yellow and red.

The green flag means we can swim freely on the beach, when we see a yellow flag we must ask the lifeguard because it means there is a problem such as weather conditions or some contamination, while when we see a red flag we must not enter the sea at all, it means the beach has some danger.”

How does one become a lifeguard?

According to the head of the lifeguards of the Panhellenic School of Lifesaving “all those who want to become a lifeguard, as long as they can swim. Those interested come to the school, do the training, the duration of which is 15 days. It includes theoretical and practical courses, followed by the school exams and then they can practice the profession of lifeguard, where there is a great shortage. The lifeguards who graduate from our school receive a salary of up to 1400 euros, net, with their insurance, holidays, accommodation and in many cases food allowance. So it is very good for a student, in the summer after leaving school, to work as a lifeguard and be remunerated for his services by securing extra things for the winter.”

However, knowledge of first aid is also essential for lifeguards, this is what Maria Delatola, first aid instructor of ENAK (Hellenic Lifesaving Academy) emphasizes to APE – MEP: “Today we performed rescue techniques on an active and a passive victim, as well as and first aid on a dummy and the use of a defibrillator. It is something that not only lifeguards but the whole world should know. The whole world needs to know first aid, especially CPR, and now that defibrillators are entering public buildings, public and private services, it is good to know their use.” As Mrs. Delatola points out: “The Hellenic Lifesaving Academy conducts first aid courses either internationally through the EFR (Emergency First Response), or through the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy and it is a degree that is now also needed by gymnasts, as also necessary in life-saving in relation to the shore, in swimming-pool life-saving, and in learning to swim.’