PR 220

For immediate release

26 July 2006

With the start of the school holidays and the glorious sunny weather not surprisingly people are heading for the beach - and Great Yarmouth Borough Council wants them to have a marvellous and safe time - and that includes a way to keep track of children who wander off.

Parents who visit the first-aid posts on central beach, Great Yarmouth, or at Gorleston beach can get a wristband on which to write their mobile phone number in case their little-one wanders off.

Anyone finding the youngster can then give the parents a call and alert them that their child is safe.

The first-aid teams are just one of the ways the Council, through its partner organisation GYB Services who operates the first aid stations and manages the beachguards, helps residents and visitors enjoy the beach.

“The last thing we want is to cast a shadow over people’s fun but we just want to remind them that we have staff on the beach to help keep them safe,” said Assistant Manager Seafront Phil Carter. “Having a great day at the beach is just a matter of common sense.

“Beachguards patrol central beach between the Britannia and Wellington piers and from the Pier Hotel to the Ravine bridge at Gorleston, they are there from 10am to 5.30pm.

“If at any time an emergency occurs and the beachguards are not at hand, the public can go to the first aid posts who will radio the beachguards. Both the first aid units and the beachguards are in close contact with the local coastguards at all times.

“In the last two weeks the beachguards have had to help young children who have got into difficulties with inflatables or body boards which have carried them out to sea. Parents need to be aware that it only takes a gust of wind to push something like that out into deeper water.”

The beachguards are easy to spot in their yellow T-shirts - marked beachguards, and also bearing the GYB Services logo.

“We do ask people to take heed of the beachguards if they ask them to come out of the water, added Phil. “Anyone ignoring them could be putting their own life and that of people trying to rescue them if things do go wrong.

“The beachguards operate a system of flags to warn bathers of the sea-state,” added Phil. “A red flag means no swimming as conditions are dangerous, and a black flag with a white dot means no inflatables as there is an offshore wind.

“Children also love burrowing in the sand. But again it is just common-sense - holes that are open and shallow are usually safe, deep with a head below the surface of the sand is definitely dangerous as is digging tunnels.”

Several people have already attended hospital suffering from the affects of the sun, the first-aiders can give help with ice packs but it is best to apply lots of sun screen or cover up if there is a fear of burning.

The first-aid posts are near the Ocean Rooms gardens at Gorleston, and linked to the jetty toilets on central beach.

Note to Editors
For further information call Assistant Manager Seafront Phil Carter on 07850 931460.

Picture captions
1 Beachguard Daniel Buck and first-aider Jane Walpole at Gorleston Beach

Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513