The US State Department is being urged to increase its travel advisory for Phuket by the International Surf Lifesaving Association.
Irked by long standing problems of life saving cover on Phuket beaches, the ISLA has made a formal request the State Department to issue a Level Three Advisory warning of the dangers swimming on Phuket beaches without trained lifeguards.
"ISLA requests that this Level Three Travel Advisory remain in place until the existing Internationally Certified lifeguard force is fully funded, operational, and able to provide lifeguard services that meet International Standards," the association said, Phuket News reports.
In the resolution ISLA President Henry Reyes said: "The southwest monsoon affects Phuket from May to November each year. This yearly weather phenomenon creates strong winds and waves, which in turn create a special type of deadly rip current, the ‘flash rip’. Worse, ocean conditions unique to the region make Phuket’s flash rip currents some of the most dangerous in the world."
This comes as there are no trained lifeguards on Phuket beaches, he said.
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation appointed a private company LP Laikhum Co to provide lifeguard services but has yet to supply the required personnel as most of the trained lifeguards have aligned themselves with a rival company.
The ISLA says LP Laikhum Co was ousted from a lifeguard contract previously due to mismanagement.
Phuket’s Governor, who opposed the awarding of the contract to Laikhum Co, has ordered authorities to ensure lifeguards are in place manning beaches by April 1.
"Over 200 ocean lifeguards recently trained to international standards, many of whom were drafted from the ranks of the existing local lifeguards, have already pledged their commitment to another company. At this time LP Laikhum has no certified ocean lifeguards willing to work for them," Daren Jenner, ISLA’s Warrant Marine Safety Officer told the Phuket News
The State Department’s newly revamped system comprises a new four-tier advisory system based on risk with level three urging Americans to ‘reconsider travel.’
