PHUKET: A lifesaving education centre is to be built at a popular Phuket beach in what will be a major step forward for swimmers' safety on Phuket.
Supporters of the project hope the building of the centre will begin this year on the foreshore at the popular southern Phuket beach of Nai Harn.
News of the plan for the centre comes with the release of an excellent swimming safety video on YouTube.
With English commentary and Tha language subtitles, it's hoped that more Thai visitors to Phuket and other beach destinations will learn about the dangers of rip currents from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTrx5rLpedI
More education will come with the Phuket centre. Already the local Rawai council has ceded control of the site, where a dilapidated hexagonal building now stands, to the Phuket Provincial Adminstrative Organisation.
The organisation will work with the Phuket Lifeguard Club and Surf Life Saving Australia to make the centre a success on a number of levels.
Jayne MacDougall, Director of Risk Management and Loss Prevention at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, has been one of the most ardent supporters of the centre and the video projects.
''We hope to be able to make good use of a site that is not being used,'' she said today. ''It will mean that new lifeguards will have a place where they can study and learn so they are better skilled by the time they reach a Phuket beach.
''We also hope it can be used to educate Thai children and their parents about swimming and water safety. Parents are often afraid to allow their children in the water, so we need to persuade them that the water can be a lot of fun if children are taught to swim.''
The small centre will allow many people to learn the basics under Nai Harn's delightful glade of foreshore trees.
Ms MacDougall credits Norman Farmer of Surf Life Saving Australia and regular Australian visitor to Phuket and safety expert, David Field, with being among the ''very enthusiastic people'' helping to drive the concept.
Funding has come via a grant from the Australia-Thailand Institute. Bluescope Steel in Thailand is to provide materials and engineering, with harperdesign as architect/designer.
''It should be a great venue. My hope is that there will eventually be one centre in each area,'' Ms MacDougall said.
Australian lifesavers are expected to ''bring their expertise on long or short trips to Phuket'' more frequently once the centre is open.
That rip current safety video with Thai subtitles is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTrx5rLpedI
Supporters of the project hope the building of the centre will begin this year on the foreshore at the popular southern Phuket beach of Nai Harn.
News of the plan for the centre comes with the release of an excellent swimming safety video on YouTube.
With English commentary and Tha language subtitles, it's hoped that more Thai visitors to Phuket and other beach destinations will learn about the dangers of rip currents from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTrx5rLpedI
More education will come with the Phuket centre. Already the local Rawai council has ceded control of the site, where a dilapidated hexagonal building now stands, to the Phuket Provincial Adminstrative Organisation.
The organisation will work with the Phuket Lifeguard Club and Surf Life Saving Australia to make the centre a success on a number of levels.
Jayne MacDougall, Director of Risk Management and Loss Prevention at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, has been one of the most ardent supporters of the centre and the video projects.
''We hope to be able to make good use of a site that is not being used,'' she said today. ''It will mean that new lifeguards will have a place where they can study and learn so they are better skilled by the time they reach a Phuket beach.
''We also hope it can be used to educate Thai children and their parents about swimming and water safety. Parents are often afraid to allow their children in the water, so we need to persuade them that the water can be a lot of fun if children are taught to swim.''
The small centre will allow many people to learn the basics under Nai Harn's delightful glade of foreshore trees.
Ms MacDougall credits Norman Farmer of Surf Life Saving Australia and regular Australian visitor to Phuket and safety expert, David Field, with being among the ''very enthusiastic people'' helping to drive the concept.
Funding has come via a grant from the Australia-Thailand Institute. Bluescope Steel in Thailand is to provide materials and engineering, with harperdesign as architect/designer.
''It should be a great venue. My hope is that there will eventually be one centre in each area,'' Ms MacDougall said.
Australian lifesavers are expected to ''bring their expertise on long or short trips to Phuket'' more frequently once the centre is open.
That rip current safety video with Thai subtitles is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTrx5rLpedI
This is very good news to begin the week on. I congratulate you all and wish you all well in getting the centre built and online.
Congratulations.
Posted by Robin on August 15, 2011 11:01