Few holiday makers know sea dangers
68% of people would leave children bathing unsupervised while one third of pleasure boats lack communication equipment
FEW holidaymakers are aware of the dangers posed by the sea according to statistics from a lifeguard agency.
A survey carried out for the Société nationale des sauveteurs en mer (SNSM) found that while 56% of people took a holiday by the sea once a year, 27% did not know how to swim.
Despite this, 68% said they like bathing in the sea – the top activity – which was followed up by canoeing, rowing, motorboats and diving.
About 56% of those polled said they would leave their children to bathe alone in the sea.
A spokesman for the SNSM said: “We are seeing more accidents on the beaches in the south west, particularly where currents are strong and can carry people out to sea.
“Some people are knocked unconscious by breakers which then pull them under. Then you also have children who run after inflatable balls or mattresses until they lose their footing.”
The president of the SNSM station at the île d'Aix in the Charente-Maritime told Le Figaro newspaper: “We're seeing more incidents where we have to tow back boats who have run out of fuel because the owner hass misjudged the amount.”
Such operations are free if a life is in danger but cost 500 euros an hour otherwise.
The study was presented at the sea security forum, being organised by the minister for transport Dominique Bussereau.
It found that one pleasure boat driver in five does not check the weather before setting out, 32% lacked communication equipment and 65% had no GPS.
“One third of pleasureboat drivers don't feel responsible for their own safety and seem to rely entirely on us,” said an SNSM member.
The SNSM says it helped 2,481 people in trouble at least 300m from the shore and 17,400 injured on the shore.
In total in 2009, 55 people died and 35 went missing along the coast.
