Cancun, Q.R. — Cancun lifeguards are working to strengthen protocols with practiced beach rescue drills. The group of lifeguards from several agencies recently practiced their rescue drills at Playa Marlin in the Cancun Hotel Zone.
Antonio Riveroll Ribbón, the Director General of Civil Protection, said the drills began with three people entering the sea despite the signs and red flag warning. They were carried away from the shore by a tidal current and unable to return.
In accordance with protocol, the emergency team, composed of eight lifeguards and two first aid personnel from Civil Protection and Firefighters, with support from personnel from the Federal Maritime Land Zone (Zofemat), reacted immediately. They entered the water first with a specialized rescue board and two buoys to protect the victims from possible drowning.
Back at the arena, specialized personnel performed first aid maneuvers with manual compression and the LUCAS machine on one of them, who also required assistance with an oxygen tank and transport by ambulance for further medical evaluation.
Riveroll says beach visitors must always observe the city’s safety measures which include checking the color and meaning of the flags posted for everyone’s safety. Red means danger, yellow means caution and green means optimal conditions for entering the water, he explained.
He emphasized that if someone has an emergency on the sand, they should always ask for support from lifeguards and not attempt a rescue since they lack the knowledge, equipment or skills to do so.
He also reiterated the importance of not leaving vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly alone, especially if they enter the sea.
“This summer, take every precaution and always listen for the signal from our lifeguards. We remind you that we have lifeguards on staff at all the beaches managed by the municipality of Benito Juárez.
“We also have lifeguards at the hotels and condominiums and fully trained lifeguards at all seven public beaches from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.,” he said.
