This is the first time that the civic body is recruiting its own workforce; it only has private guards on contractual basis at present.
The number of drowning incidents on the city beaches might soon decrease.
After a series of deaths due to drowning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now decided to rope in seven more lifeguards. This is for the first time that the civic body is planning to boost the number of permanent lifeguards on its payroll. BMC, so far, has private lifeguards on a contractual basis.
“BMC had been relying on private lifeguards. But now we will rope in seven permanent lifeguards. After shortlisting and the selection procedure, the lifeguards will be deployed on the beaches by year-end,” said chief fire officer Uday Tatkare.
The civic body will soon publish advertisements to invite applications for lifeguards. Presently, there are only 23 lifeguards, along with three instructors, on the city beaches.
Officials claimed that the additional lifeguards will help reduce the number of drowning incidents. BMC has framed a rigorous test and training regime to select the candidates. Only those within the age bracket of 20 to 25 years will be eligible to apply. Moreover, the applicant need not be an excellent swimmer but must be a fast runner.
“The selected candidates should also be trained in first aid and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. They should be aware of different methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which helps a person regain ventilation and respiration. They will also be trained to provide basic medication,” added a senior civic official.
Following a directive by the Bombay high court, the civic body will also enhance beach safety. It will spend around Rs2.3 crore to deploy life-saving and beach safety equipment. Watch towers and essential safety equipment like jetskies, communication system, inflatable rescue boats and life-saving kit for lifeguards will be made available at six beaches in the city - at Gorai, Versova, Juhu, Dadar, Girgaum and Marwe. In addition, safety information display broads will also be put up at these beaches.
“These boards will display location map, danger area, timings of high tide and low tide. They will also display a list of do’s and don’ts for the visitors thronging the beach. Also, first aid equipment will be provided at all the six beaches,” added the official.
The civic body, last year, had trained a set of lifeguards and deployed them at the beaches. Prior to this, 140 firemen were asked to double up as lifeguards at the city beaches.
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