Lifeguards are calling for the necessary resources to help protect them against contracting Covid-19 and are considering withholding their services if these requests are not met.
They are asking for an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), and protocols for giving CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
They also want proper and sanitized lifeguard towers, better beach facilities and security on and around remote beaches.
President of the Lifeguard Section of the National Union of Government and Federated Workers, Augustus Sylvester, said “we are now pondering our way forward, and based on the way we are being treated by the National Security Ministry, , we wonder if it makes sense having our presence on the beaches at this point in time.”
“We are expected to do CPR, which is getting exposed directly to the virus, and we don’t have enough equipment to deal with that. And this has left lifeguards sceptical when dealing with patients.”
He called on the Ministry of Health to develop protocols for rescues.
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