Safety at Shek O Beach
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Appendix II Safety at Shek O Beach Responses by Departments: LCSD The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) provides lifeguard services at 36 public beaches, including Shek O Be ach. Shark prevention nets are installed at all public beaches with lifeguard services. However, swimmers still need to take heed of water safety advice to avoid accidents. In the past five years, there were four drowning cases at Southern beaches, including three cases at Shek O Beach and one case at Deep Water Bay Beach. The numbers of rescue, drowning, give -a-hand and accident cases at the public bathing beaches in Southern District from 2008 to 2013 (up to May 2013) are shown in Table 1. To arouse public awareness of water safety, the LCSD publicizes water safety advice through various channels such as television, radio, the LCSD web site, posters and swimmer’s handbook. Water safety messages are further disseminated to schools through the organis ation of water safety promotional activities, such as the water sports safety poster design and slogan competitions which were jointly organised by the LCSD and the Hong Kong Life Saving Society in 2013 with the participation of 2 313 primary students and 1 777 secondary students. The messages of “Do not enter the water while the red flag has been hoisted due to rough sea” and “Only swim when lifeguard services are provided” are widely publicized in this year’s competitions. The LCSD will work in collaboration with the Southern District Council and the Home Affairs Department as well as local resident association s to further promote water safety of the beaches. In addition, the LCSD put up warning notices at public bathing beaches including the Shek O Beach to remind swimmers not to enter the water outside the lifeguard services hours, not to swim outside the swimming zone or in the dark, etc. for the sake of safety. When lifeguard service is suspended in winter, announcement will be broadcasted from time to time in the daytime advising public not to enter the water in the absence of lifeguard services. The LCSD welcomes the suggestion of proposed electronic notice board at Shek O Beach to enhance the publicity of water safety messages and will actively study the feasibility of pilot installation at Shek O Beach. SDO Southern District Office (SDO) stands ready to assist in encouraging representatives from local organisations in Shek O Village to participate in those publicity events to be organised by the LCSD with a view to promoting such messages in the community. 3 4 .