QUICK TAKES

SINAPROC Makes Panamanian Beaches
Safe for Tourists

By Juan Carlos Martinez

"Safe Summer 2010" is the name of SINAPROC´S summer safety program in swimming areas meaning beaches, water holes or rivers. SINAPROC is the National Civil Protection System in charge of anything and everything in Panama pertaining to disasters be it prevention, mitigation, preparation, warning, response, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development. It is a government entity created in November 1982 and reorganized in 2005 ascribed to the Ministry of Government and Justice. SINAPROC is present in all events and places where a large amount of people congregate, they issue weather and disaster warnings, tips on dealing with all types of disasters, they render first aid, among many, many other duties.

This year SINAPROC has one of its largest operations in swimming areas with 300 operatives, meaning lifeguards, rescue personnel and first aid staff, in 30 locations in the Republic of Panama. The strongest presence is in the province of Cocle with some 30 operatives and volunteers to provide support and the necessary recommendations for bathers in order to prevent accidents. The staff will be supported by rescue vehicles, zodiac boats, jet skis and four wheels. This staff will be working on Sundays from 7:00 am to 5:00 PM, this being the day most people visit the beaches. Cocle along with Panama are the provinces with the most accessible beaches therefore having the highest number of bathers and the greatest number of SINAPROC staff on guard. "Safe Summer 2010" will conclude 30 days after Easter week.

Evidently this display of agents is not enough to cover all the beaches in Panama however many beaches where hotels and tourist facilities are located do hire private lifeguards and SINAPROC has officially requested their assistance in this aspect and has issued some recommendations for bathers such as not to swim or enter the water if drinking alcohol, watch the kids and the elderly, wear sunblock and protective clothing, beware of jelly fish and stingrays, and seek medical assistance immediately if stung or if suffering from the effects of too much sun. In fact many of the injuries attended by SINAPROC so far have been scrapes, fractures, exhaustion and hypertension, sea urchin and jelly fish stings. In addition to this SINAPROC has requested that if at all possible visits to the beach or any swim area be done on Sundays when there are lifeguards and rescue staff in the most popular swimming areas listed below:

Bocas del Toro: Isla Colón, Red Frog, El Istmito, Changuinola River, Silencio River, Chiriquí Grande and Punta Peña.
Coclé: Santa Clara and Juan Hombrón
Colón: Isla Grande
Chiriquí: La Barqueta, Las Lajas, Las Mellizas and Estero Rico
Darién: Senón, Acapulco and Punta Alegre
Herrera: Monagre
Los Santos: El Uverito
Veraguas: Soná, Torio and Playa Reina in Mariato
Panamá Este: Chepo, Mamoní River and the Toma de Agua (Water Source)
Panamá Oeste: Gorgona, Boquilla, Jayes and Canadian.

In any case should an accident occur on any beach there is a private hospital, Hospital San Fernando, with an emergency room in Coronado, lifeguards and SINAPROC vehicles and personnel on beaches close by and SINAPROC´s emergency number is 335.

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