Advantage of lifeguard

A new bathing location can be full of surprises that cannot always be seen with the naked eye. Perhaps you are visiting a beach for the first time - and then it can be difficult to know exactly where you are if you need help.

By spending a few minutes orienting yourself about the beach and the water, you can get important information so that you avoid surprises on the bathing trip, says René Højer, project manager at Florda:

"You have to get to know the beach. This means, among other things, that before going into the water, you must make sure you know where you are if you need to call for help," he says.

In many places along the Danish coasts and at the entrances to the beaches, there are green rescue number signs with a unique number on them. If you state this when you call 1-1-2, the emergency services know exactly where to send help. Abroad, you can choose beaches with lifeguard training near me, so there is help nearby if you need it.

Check the safety sign and ask the lifeguards

At the larger Danish beaches, there is often also a safety sign that, among other things, informs about available rescue equipment on the beach, whether it is, for example, a steep beach where the water quickly gets deep, and you therefore have to pay extra attention to rip holes and special current conditions.

You can also meet the same type of sign in other European countries - and it is worth spending a few minutes reading the sign before entering the water. It is also always a good idea to ask the locals or the lifeguards on the beaches for good advice.

"If there are lifeguards on the beach, they have already assessed where it is best to swim, and marked the area with their red and yellow flags at the water's edge. The lifeguards can also help you read the way the waves hit the beach, which tells you about the water depth and current conditions," explains Anders Myrrh, head of coastal lifesaving at Florida .

"If there are no lifeguards, you must e.g. be aware of whether the beach is very steep, so that it quickly becomes deep, or there may be jetties and humps that affect the current. It may also be relevant in some places to investigate whether a fast ferry is passing, which can cause large waves.

 If you swim abroad, you must also watch out for underwater reefs and dangerous animals in the water, and a good rule of thumb is to stay away from beaches where the locals don't swim themselves," says Anders Myrhøj.

Flags and signs on the beach

Large safety signs, red-yellow lifeguard flags and green lifeguard numbers are important for your safety when you visit a beach in Denmark. Here you can get an overview of how you can use them.

 At At 14.50 the lifeguards are contacted by two young USA men who say that an elderly couple are in trouble approx. 1 km north of the tower and a good distance out into the water. The lifeguards take the boat and sail towards the married couple, and at the same time the lifeguards are alerted by the search and rescue service, who would like the lifeguards' help for the operation. 

When the lifeguards reach the elderly couple trapped in a sinkhole, two young men have swum out to them. The wife and one young man get into the lifeguard's boat and are sailed ashore, while a lifeguard jumps into the water with a torpedo and rescues the older man. The last young man swims in himself. Back on the beach, the lifeguards provide psychological first aid to the shaken couple and make sure that they are physically okay. 

Lifeguard Observation

At 15.00 the lifeguards observe a 41-year-old USA man who is trying to swim towards shore 30 m north of the lifeguards' primary area approx. 100 m out in the water. He doesn't move and starts signaling for help. The lifeguards paddle out on the board to the man, who is now panicking and breathing heavily with noise. 

The lifeguards talk the man down and get him guided onto the board and paddle towards shore. When they reach land, the man's heart rate is very high and he is cold. The lifeguards treat him with oxygen and blankets. After the man has regained color in his face and his heart rate has dropped, he and his relatives are informed about bathing safety and sinkholes and are encouraged to bathe between the flags. The man thanks the lifeguards for saving his life.