According to the Portuguese Lifeguards Federation, 27 deaths from drowning were recorded in Portugal in the first quarter of this year, up 12.5% from the same period in 2022.
The 27 deaths (22 men, four women and one whose gender was not disclosed) already exceed the 24 that occurred last year between January 1 and March 31, according to the Drowning Observatory federation’s data released in a statement.
According to the organization, the rise in aquatic deaths “is of particular concern as 2022 was a year of particular increase in drowning in Portugal.”
Most drownings reportedly occurred in the afternoon (48.1%), all in uncontrolled locations, and only three were witnesses and rescue attempts.
January was the deadliest month with 10 deaths, followed by February with nine and March with eight.
The Leiria region was the area with the most deaths, five, followed by Faro (four), Lisbon and Setúbal (three each) and Porto and Santarém (two each).
Among the places where the highest number of drownings occurred, the highest number of victims was in the sea (9 people), followed by the river (8 people). There were also six deaths in a well (two), in a harbor (two) and in a domestic pool (two), in addition to one death in a dam, another in a reservoir, another in a wharf and another in a ditch. .
In terms of age, the majority, 70.4%, were over 45 years of age.
The Drowning Observatory is a system set up by the Portuguese Lifeguards Federation to record drowning deaths in Portugal.
On May 22, the municipalities proposed to the government the participation of the navy in watching and rescuing bathers in this bathing season due to the lack of lifeguards, in addition to creating a professional career with a reward table that makes this sector attractive.
According to the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP), these municipalities have assumed authority over sea, river and lake beaches, but have “faced restrictions on hiring lifeguards for the bathing season”, which is not a problem. from this year, but it is increasing and it requires “exceptional measures”.
The National Maritime Authority, which is responsible for enforcing and overseeing the rules and regulations applicable to bather assistance, said 582 new lifeguards had been certified through May 10, bringing 4,331 people to the job.
The Maritime Authority stressed that the usual number of lifeguards across the country during the summer is between 5,200 and 5,500, and that number could be reached this year once the scheduled technical aptitude exams take place.
According to the list of swimming spots published in Diário da República, there are 589 lifeguarded beaches in Portugal this year, four more than in 2022.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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