KARACHI, June 5: As people in a large number have started thronging beaches with the start of summer vacations in educational institutions, the picnickers have been advised to exercise caution and not to cross the line of orange flags put up by the Emergency Rescue Centre, Hawkesbay, to identify limits. “The orange coloured flags signify the presence of lifeguard in the limits. The lifeguards could also be seen wearing uniforms of the same colour recently procured by the (ERC) of the city government,” said Deputy Chief Fire Officer Naeem Yousaf.
An average of 45,000 to 50,000 people visits the beach on Sundays during monsoon. Annually, 100,000 people visit the city’s popular beaches of Sandspit and Hawkesbay.
“We have selected 12 points to put up the orange flags to identify safe zones for picnickers where lifeguards would be present”, in-charge of the ERC Zafar Khan told Dawn.
Lifeguards would be on rescue duty at Sandspit, Officers Hut, Hawkesbay, Golden Beach, French Beach, Kanupp Point, Paradise Point and Cape Montz, besides the ERC. The dangerous points include Cape Montz, Naeelam Point and Golden Beach. The rescue service has recommended imposition of Section-144 at these beaches.
A small force of 46 lifeguards man the 27-km coastline from Sandspit to PN Himalaya. A two-km stretch between Sonera Beach and Mubarak Village is without lifeguards. The portion of coastline along Mubarak Village is closed to public whereas Sonera Beach is regarded as dangerous and people have been advised to avoid visiting the stretch, Zafar Khan said.
In case of an emergency, people could dial 0345-2075017-18 (ERC). Fire 16 could also be dialled from cellphones.
He said that the lifeguards, who were supposed to do an eight-hour duty, remained at work till sunset as people would not leave the picnic spots before dark. However, they were not being paid overtime for the extra hours they work.
In addition, 30 lifeguards from local population work on voluntary basis on Sundays to overcome the shortage of manpower. The volunteers are expert swimmers, according to Zafar Khan.
Suggesting that lifejackets should be available at beaches on rental basis, the Naeem Yousaf said that this could minimize chances of loss of life in case of a mishap. Lifejackets could be made available at every hut along the coastline and if this alone was made mandatory, risk of casualties could be avoided to great extent.
Mr Yousaf also advised picnickers that they, before leaving for a beach, should ensure having a torch, a rope and a first-aid box. A bottle of vinegar would also help them treat an accompanying person having been bitten by blue bottle. He reminded the picnickers that in such a case, vinegar should be applied on the affected part of body externally, and should not be consumed.
He observed that mishaps often happened when picnickers drift into deep waters while playing football, cricket, etc. He advised people to tie a strong rope around the waist before swimming into deep waters, and ensure that the accompanying away from water were holding the other end of the rope firmly.
Mr Yousaf strongly warned people, especially youth, not to resort to using hard drinks as in many incidents in the past, cause of tragedies appeared to be such practices. Similar consequences were attributed to the use of drugs and narcotics, he added.
The chief fire officer said that on Sundays, four vehicles of the fire department patrolled the beaches with public address system fitted in each of the vehicles. The patrol parties also carried first-aid supplies, he added.
