Le Lavandou: 20 lifeguards and 7 CRS to monitor the beaches
The City has deployed its summer system with 20 lifeguards and 7 CRS in reinforcement to ensure beach surveillance.
In Le Lavandou, the safety of swimmers and holidaymakers is a priority. The municipality has set up a complete surveillance system, with twenty lifeguards recruited by the Municipality to watch over the main beaches.
Reinforced human resources
The twenty lifeguards ensure a daily presence at the aid stations, seven days a week. Their eyes are fixed on the sea and the sand to anticipate and intervene at the slightest incident.
To cope with the high influx of visitors in July and August, this municipal staff is reinforced by seven members of the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité (CRS). This collaboration between the town and law enforcement maintains a high level of security on the coastline.
Mobile surveillance and private beaches
In addition to fixed surveillance, two rapid intervention boats allow the teams to patrol the entire coastal strip of the municipality.
The public system is complemented by an obligation for private beach lot operators to employ their own staff holding the Brevet National de Sécurité et de Sauvetage Aquatique (BNSSA).
Hours adapted to visitor numbers
Surveillance is adapted to the calendar. During the tourist peak, from July 1st to August 31st, the hours are extended from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm.
From September 1st to 28th, the aid stations of Centre-ville, Saint-Clair, l'Anglade, and Cavalière are operational from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Call boxes on natural beaches
To secure the wilder areas, six emergency call boxes have been installed on the beaches of La Fossette, Aiguebelle, Jean Blanc, Cap Nègre, and Pramousquier. They are active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
During duty hours, calls are transferred to the nearest aid station. Outside of these times, they are routed to the Var firefighters' alert center.
Accessibility for all
The four main aid stations are equipped with specific mats and adapted bathing wheelchairs (tiralos). This equipment allows people with reduced mobility to enjoy the sea in complete safety.
The flag code, an essential reminder
- Green flag: Supervised swimming, no apparent danger.- Yellow flag: Supervised swimming with limited or marked danger. Caution is advised.- Red flag: Swimming strictly prohibited.- Red and yellow flag: Indicates the supervised swimming area during the aid station's opening hours.- Absence of flag: The beach is not supervised. Lifeguards may be absent or in the middle of an intervention.
Article from the print edition of La Gazette du Var