PHUKET's second Surf Lifesaving Carnival is set to take place on Saturday, October 3 with more fun events . . . and improving the island's beach safety as its aim.
Training and establishing a beach-safety culture is what will save the lives of visitors and residents and restore Phuket's reputation as a year-round holiday destination.
Latest Public Health figures show that there were six drownings in and around Phuket in August, bringing the total for the year to 42.
While this figure includes seven victims of a dive boat accident, fishermen swept from rocks and pool deaths, many among the total are preventable drownings along Phuket's popular beaches.
A properly trained and equipped lifesaving force is the answer. This is evident in the large Australian tourist state of Queensland, where there was not a single beach drowning this summer.
For the sake of comparison, there were 19 deaths on Phuket's roads in August, worst month for the year - perhaps because of the double deluge of rain - bringing the total for the year so far to 114.
To have the drowning tally at 42 indicates the scale of the problem. Most of the drownings (as well as many of the road deaths) are preventable.
Responding to Phuket's water safety needs, Phuket Lifeguard Club is aiming the second lifesaving carnival on Patong beach at all age groups, with international competitors also expect to attend.
The first highly successful carnival last year spawned a series of mini-carnivals once a month for youngsters at popular beaches all over the island.
Known as ''nippers,'' the children who learn lifesaving techniques on Phuket's beaches are likely to be the ones saving lives (and saving Phuket's safe reputation) in the near future.
So for the first time at Patong's Loma Park this year, an under 15's category has been included. Special prizes will be awarded to encourage more Thai competitors.
The emphasis is on having a great time and a great sporting event.
The Phuket Lifeguard Club (a non-profit organisation established in 2003) is the organiser.
Sponsors include Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Patong Municipality, Phuket International Hospital and Absolute Resorts.
The complete program across all age groups can be found at www.phuketlifeguard.com
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Training and establishing a beach-safety culture is what will save the lives of visitors and residents and restore Phuket's reputation as a year-round holiday destination.
Latest Public Health figures show that there were six drownings in and around Phuket in August, bringing the total for the year to 42.
While this figure includes seven victims of a dive boat accident, fishermen swept from rocks and pool deaths, many among the total are preventable drownings along Phuket's popular beaches.
A properly trained and equipped lifesaving force is the answer. This is evident in the large Australian tourist state of Queensland, where there was not a single beach drowning this summer.
For the sake of comparison, there were 19 deaths on Phuket's roads in August, worst month for the year - perhaps because of the double deluge of rain - bringing the total for the year so far to 114.
To have the drowning tally at 42 indicates the scale of the problem. Most of the drownings (as well as many of the road deaths) are preventable.
Responding to Phuket's water safety needs, Phuket Lifeguard Club is aiming the second lifesaving carnival on Patong beach at all age groups, with international competitors also expect to attend.
The first highly successful carnival last year spawned a series of mini-carnivals once a month for youngsters at popular beaches all over the island.
Known as ''nippers,'' the children who learn lifesaving techniques on Phuket's beaches are likely to be the ones saving lives (and saving Phuket's safe reputation) in the near future.
So for the first time at Patong's Loma Park this year, an under 15's category has been included. Special prizes will be awarded to encourage more Thai competitors.
The emphasis is on having a great time and a great sporting event.
The Phuket Lifeguard Club (a non-profit organisation established in 2003) is the organiser.
Sponsors include Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Patong Municipality, Phuket International Hospital and Absolute Resorts.
The complete program across all age groups can be found at www.phuketlifeguard.com
How Phuket Turns its Back . . . and Tourists Die
Photo Album A turtle without a flipper survived. A Russian tourist drowned. Another day in paradise. Phuket's drownings can only be stopped by the community taking responsibility.
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Fishermen Swept from Rocks Near Patong
Latest One fisherman is missing believed drowned and a second had a narrow escape when a wave washed them off rocks in the latest of Phuket's spate of seaside mishaps.
Fishermen Swept from Rocks Near Patong
Phuket Drownings: Which Beach is the Safest?
Latest Lifeguards and an accelerated training program are just part of what Phuket needs to make its beaches safe during the monsoon summer season especially.
Phuket Drownings: Which Beach is the Safest?
Phuket Drownings: Russian Vanishes at Karon
Updating Report The spate of needless drownings continues on Phuket with Karon officials hunting for the body of a Russian holidaymaker last seen in the surf at popular Karon beach.
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Patong Surf Carnival and Cleanup: Photo Special
Photo Special Patong, scene of at least one drowning in June, hosted a mini surf lifesaving carnival on Saturday and will hold a larger event on Sunday. The beach was also cleaned.
Patong Surf Carnival and Cleanup: Photo Special
Phuket Surf Lifesaving Gets Big Kick Up The Bum
Tight swimsuits and lashings of sunscreen mark the introduction of the surf lifesaving culture to Patong beach at Phuket's First Surf Lifesaving Carnival. Go save a life. PHOTO ALBUM
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Phuket TDA Base Will Teach Thailand to Swim
Photo Album The Thai Diving Association has plans to teach Thailand to swim at the big pool going in alongside its news HQ on the road to Phuket Airport. There's a big boat out the front.
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Phuketwan Phuket News
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Latest Thailand's tourism image has been tarnished because corruption is tolerated, and it will be tarnished over and over again unless honest Thais act to stop the thieves.
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Patong, Rawai Fail Phuket's Clean Beach Tests
Pollution Chart Album Experts survey all 23 Phuket beaches and report on which ones are most severely polluted. Patong and Rawai are at one end of the scale, Kata and Karon at the other.
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Phuket's Day of Celebration for Respected Monk
Photo Special Birthdays come every year but No. 113 is always going to be a rare treat for anyone who reaches that milestone. Phuket enjoyed that treat, too.
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