Torrevieja's Red Cross second to none

There are those who complain about the lack of Blue Flags, facilities, and services on the City’s beaches.

Of surprise to some will be the news that the municipality of Torrevieja is number one in all of Spain when it comes to the number of days that her Beaches are opened and monitored.

Thanks to an agreement with the Red Cross, Torrevieja’s beaches are supervised from April 1st through to the end of October. In 2009 the Red Cross reported that they had attended to more than 9,000 incidents on her beaches not including 2,283 bracelets distributed to children so that they do not become lost in the beach, as well as more than 500 services helping the disabled enjoy the sea in adapted chair

Torrevieja’s beaches count on a total of 82 life-guards with the Red Cross operating nine first-aid stations: 4 in Playa de La Mata (uno de ellos en Cabo Cervera), plus one each at Los Locos, Playa de El Cura, Piscinas del Paseo de Juan Aparicio, Playa de Los Náufragos plus Rocío del Mar (Cala Piteras). The cost for these services was 784,714 Euros.

Between 1 of April to the 31 of August, the Red Cross also attended to fish bites (317), urchin punctures (133), insect bites (323), falls and contusions (1.700), and the worst offender, 2,354 jellyfish stings with almost 1,000 taking place at La Mata. Lifeguards also rescued 316 swimmers who required help along with treating sun burn victims, four deaths from heart attacks and working closely with local emergency services.