PANJIM: Drishti Lifesaving Services has claimed 99 per cent reduction in drowning deaths since 2008 when it came into operations across major beaches in the State.
The agency has further claimed that over 4,000 lives have been saved since then due to intervening rescue operations.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, Drishti stated that across 35 towers, the lifeguards are equipped with first-aid kits, spine boards, surf boards, rescue boards and tubes, hand held radio sets, bag valve masks to assist in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines.
“One-to-two jet skis are stationed at specific towers and one-to-two jeeps patrol regularly at each of these locations. Also, every tower and jeep has a high powered two-way radio set installed to enable a strong communications capability. Lifeguards manning these jet skis coordinate with each other at various locations during search and rescue operations,” it further reads.
On an average, Drishti deploys 14 lifeguards across the 40 coastal areas in Goa (38 beaches, Dudhsagar Waterfalls and Mayem Lake). At popular beaches such as Baga, Calangute and Colva, Drishti deploys 22 lifeguards on an average.
Commenting about the incident wherein a Delhi man died on being struck by lightning at Sinquerim Beach, the Drishti claimed that the male tourist was on his phone when the incident occurred.
“The lifeguards were the first responders. The couple was at the shoreline. After a massive thunder they heard a scream for help and saw a man collapsed onto the sand. Two lifeguards rushed to the spot and called for backup and initiated CPR. Immediately, six additional lifeguards rushed to assist and together the lifeguards assisted in the rescue operations,” the press statement said.
“First aid and CPR continued to be administered to the victims and they were rushed to the waiting ambulance on a spine board which was called for by the lifeguards.”
