As the temperatures rise and examinations come to an end, families start planning their summer holidays. Some will go abroad, while many others will simply spend most of their free time at the beach in the afternoons and strolling along promenades in the hope of a crisp breeze in the evenings.
Summer brings about a change in our lifestyle. During winter, families with children still at school are occupied with homework, exams and running around for football nurseries and ballet classes. Children have to go to bed early to wake up in time for school. For older citizens, it is probably too cold to venture out of doors.
All this changes as spring quickly turns to summer – if we do have a spring any more, considering that the shift from cold to hot is quick.
Last Friday, this newspaper focused on several aspects of our summer and what precautions need to be taken in order to enjoy this time. Information was given on situations that one could come across – such as heat stroke, sunburn and difficulties while swimming.
The news story also dealt with safety at the beach, as Civil Protection Department director Lieutenant Colonel Peter Cordina explained the rules that need to be followed so that everyone can enjoy a healthy and safe summer without causing problems to others.
And, while it is important for people to know what should be done in case of an emergency, it is equally important for people to follow regulations to the letter, to avoid accidents. As is often said, prevention is better than cure.
For example, it is therefore imperative for boat drivers to know their limits, and especially pay attention to those areas that are only open for swimmers. Added to this, they must also carry enough life-saving equipment for the passengers on their own boat, in case they find themselves in difficulty.
They should also watch out for divers’ surface marker buoys and avoid moving too close to them, as divers can surface at any moment. On their part, divers must also follow the regulations. Apart from this, they should only dive in areas they know well and be accompanied by others in case they need help.
The swimmers themselves must also exercise caution so that they do not move out of the swimmers-only zones.
These and other safety measures were listed in detail by Mr Cordina, and they should all be
followed to the letter.
But there are other considerations to take into account on this subject. Too few of Malta’s beaches are equipped with first aid kits and life-saving equipment. Very often such a service is provided by voluntary organisations, and this happens only at weekends, when the beaches are full of people.
It is believed that a greater effort should be made to have equipment and trained personnel at more beaches and for longer periods of time. Although Malta is small and it does not take long for ambulances to arrive, people in difficulty need treatment there and then. A few seconds could make all the difference, and this is why all Malta’s beaches should have safety equipment and lifeguards who know what to do in various circumstances.
Other matters that need to be addressed concern our civic-mindedness. Many people just do not know what this means – they throw barbecue embers into rubbish bins (and often cause a fire) and leave broken bottles on the sand. Many just get up and leave without clearing up the mess they have created. This should not be the case and it would be a good idea for environment wardens to be used in this connection.