From the 1st of August, if you go to Praia da Rocha or Praia do Vau, in Portimão, in addition to looking at the green, red or yellow flag, which indicates the state of maritime agitation, you can also see another flag, to find out whether to keep the t-shirt on or to put the hat on.
That is, if the “Há UV na Praia” project, carried out by teachers and a former teacher from the Group of Schools Manuel Teixeira Gomes, from Portimão, finds the funding that is needed to move forward with this initiative, which has already seen its launch. postponed for lack of funds.
Through a flag and a outdoor or from a mobile application, bathers will be able to know what the level of UV radiation intensity is and what protection behaviors should be adopted.
This information will be collected by the automatic meteorological station of the Manuel Teixeira Gomes School Group, which, for 15 years, has ensured the recording of the various meteorological variables.
«We were studying the collected data and there was a “click” to pass them on to the community. Since Portimão – and the Algarve – are a bathing area, it makes perfect sense for the community to pass on information about the level of UV radiation recorded on a given day and what precautions should be taken”, explains Francisco Pereira, professor of geography and project coordinator to the Sul Informação.
In addition to the information that will be made available indicating the level of UV radiation, «there will also be an indication of the protective behavior that should be taken. We have already adopted many of these behaviors: when the level of radiation is moderate, protective cream and sunglasses should be used, when it is high or very high, the previous ones are maintained and reinforced with a t-shirt and a sun hat, nothing extraordinary», reveals Francisco Pereira.
There will be a flag in the shape of a sail, which will be installed next to the lifeguard, as well as, next to the access to each beach, a outdoor information about the project and the dangers of UV radiation.
In this outdoor There will also be a QR code that allows you to download the Android application. "The application provides information to bathers in real time, through notifications, and also the flag that is next to the lifeguard is changed at least three times a day", adds the official.
The iUV classification used will be the one used by the IPMA-Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere. This classification identifies 5 levels of UV radiation intensity and typifies the corresponding protection behaviors.
However, despite the project's usefulness and innovation, there is a risk that it will not be put into practice as early as 2016, due to lack of funds.
“The project was supposed to start on June 1, with the start of the bathing season, but it was not possible due to lack of sponsorship. Now we expect it to start on August 1st», reveals the official.
According to Francisco Pereira, «2000 euros are needed to be able to have a flag kit and outdoor available for replacement, but if we have 1500 euros we can already move forward with the project “res-ves Campo de Ourique”».
Currently, there are three participating concessionaires in Praia da Rocha – which are collaborating financially with the project – and, in the case of Praia do Vau, it was the Parish Council of Portimão that assumed the contribution.
Partnerships were also established with the Rotarians of Praia da Rocha, with the Port Authority of Portimão, with the Municipality of Portimão, with the Portuguese Environment Agency/Algarve and with a company responsible for the marketing and technical assistance to sensors and stations weather (Quantific).
According to Francisco Pereira, the missing funds, for the project to start on August 1st, will have to be raised by the middle of this month, due to the timings of printing in the graphics of the flags and the outdoors. «After so much work, it will cost a lot to postpone the project until next year», concludes the professor.
In addition to Francisco Pereira, the project includes Geography teachers from the Isabel Pereira Group, Elsa Condeço, Catarina Pimenta, Ana Vicente and Isabel Baptista, the AEMTG Computer Science teacher Mário Nogueira and the Visual Arts teacher at the Padre António Secondary School Martins de Oliveira (Lagoa), also a former teacher of the Portimonense grouping of schools.
Potential interested parties in supporting this initiative should contact the Manuel Teixeira Gomes Secondary School, the headquarters of the Group.
Professor Francisco Pereira
[email protected]
Phone: 282450410
Fax: +282415049
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