The beach at Praia da Rocha was the start point for a Europe-wide 'Surf Salva' project that promotes safety on the beaches by familiarising swimmers and surfers with the work, techniques and equipment of the rescue services.
The bathing season will open soon in Portugal and the project, sponsored by Lidl Portugal, is on a tour to emphasise the importance of teamwork to raise safety standards on Portuguese beaches where last year 1,317 swimmers had to be rescued.
This project is being run by Lifeboat and Rescue Institute (Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos) personnel who cover 21 beaches and offer awareness and training in water rescue and basic life support techniques to reduce the number of deaths by drowning.
The initiative includes the Portuguese League Against Cancer where staff will be present at each venue to raise awareness of the importance of skin cancer prevention.
Last year the project familarised more than 3,200 surfers and bathers and for this year, the expectation is for even more people to get to grips with equipment and safety and rescue training.
For the Director of the Lifeboat and Rescue Institute, Captain Paulo Tomás de Sousa Costa, “Surf Salva is already part of the agenda for the bathing season. Swimmers, surfers and bathers can effectively help save lives and that's exactly what we intend to foster with this project to make beaches safer."
According to Vanessa Romeu, director of communication and social responsibility at Lidl Portugal, the initiative fits perfectly into the company’s social responsibility strategy,
“It has a very positive and innovative spirit and promotes efficiency, which is something that is in the DNA of our brand. It is with enthusiasm that we see interest in the project from more and more surfers and bathers. For Lidl Portugal, it is rewarding to contribute to saving lives, through the dynamisation of this project."
Rita Teles Branco, of the Portuguese League Against Cancer, stressed that "It is an exceptional opportunity to promote a responsible attitude to exposure to the sun's rays. 'Surf Salva' is an initiative that is totally in line with our mission."
