The National Maritime Authority (AMN) today advised the population to adopt safety behaviors on beaches and coastal areas at the weekend, for when temperatures above 30 degrees are expected.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the spokesman for the AMN and the Portuguese Navy, commander José Sousa Luís, warned that at this time of year the temperatures are high, but there is still a “winter sea”, presenting a high risk due to the effects of sea turmoil.
In a statement, AMN states that the sea also has “its morphology altered by the effect of the strong swell that normally occurs in this period of the year, creating areas of bottoms, steep slopes, eddies and streams on the beaches that are not signposted at this time. of the year".
The AMN warns that most beaches are not supervised at this time of year, that is, they do not have the bathing safety device and, therefore, the “response to a rescue situation may take a long time, so the population should have appropriate and responsible behavior, not putting oneself in risky situations”.
“The device for the next weekend remains, as there had already been a reinforcement before the eve of Good Friday. For now, we maintain the device and it is gradually being reinforced until the opening of the bathing season”, said commander José Sousa Luís to Lusa.
The commander recalled that the AMN rescued 33 people in trouble in the water over the Easter weekend, most of them due to water leaks.
“It is one of the main causes of rescues. An agueiro is a current that moves towards the sand, very localized. Usually it is an area where there is no ripple or where it is weaker, it is a darker area where the sediments are in suspension. If someone gets caught in a waterhole, they shouldn't panic or swim against the current, they'll just get tired and won't be able to reach the sand. You must remain calm, swim parallel to the shore until you get out of that localized current and then swim to the beach”, he explained.
In view of the good weather forecast by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) over the weekend, the AMN recommends that children be permanently monitored and that risky behavior be avoided, such as approaching water or walking on wet sand.
It also advises the population not to turn their backs on the sea and that there is always a safe distance in relation to the waterline, avoiding being surprised by the waves.
In the event of a dangerous situation in the water, AMN asks you to call 112.
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