AN INITIATIVE by mobile phone telecommunications giant, Vodafone, in conjunction with Cascais Câmara and maritime authorities, saw the launch of a beach safety and accessibility for all campaign.
The project, which has a total cost of 1.5 million euros and will run over a three-year period, was signed by António Capucho, Cascais Câmara President, Dr. José Archer, president of the Association of Blue Flag Beaches of Europe, Dr. António Carrapatoso, president of Vodafone Portugal, Dr. Manuel Antunes, Secretary of State for National Defence with responsibility for the sea, and Eng. Francisco Correia, Regional Environment Minister. The first year of the project will see life-saving equipment at 64 beaches and will extend to some 124 beaches over the three years that the project will be running.
The equipment includes 14 motorised jet skis with fuel for fast water retrieval of drowning or injured persons, 250 points of beach security with life buoys, 250 mobile phones with free-call facilities for life-guards, 200,000 ashtrays, 15,000 notice boards (including some in Braille), 20 amphibious wheelchairs plus special ones to cross the sand, and T-shirts and caps for safety staff. Bob Hughes
