New lifeguards at seven Central Corfu beaches

(Central Corfu Municipality) With the highest priority being the protection of human life, the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands is reinstating lifeguards on its busy beaches after several years.

The relevant contract with the contractor company Bayline Services was signed on Tuesday, July 8—albeit delayed due to bureaucratic procedures. As a result, seven of the Municipality’s most popular beaches are now fully covered by lifeguard services, in accordance with the strict requirements and conditions set by Greek legislation.

The beaches of Agios Gordios, Kontogialos, Glyfada, Paleokastritsa, Barbati, Ipsos, and Dassia are now safeguarded by 34 trained lifeguards and 17 lifeguard towers, equipped with the necessary medical and pharmaceutical supplies. Coverage is provided daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., including Sundays and public holidays, until September 30.

To enhance bathers' sense of safety and ensure protection against accidents, the contractor company has deployed five five-metre patrol boats to oversee all bathing facilities and the surrounding coastal area of the Municipality, seventeen small motorboats—one for each lifeguard—and designated swimming areas with safety boundaries.

The motorised rescue equipment also includes six jet skis, as required by law for beaches staffed with more than one lifeguard.

The total cost of the programme will amount to €534,000 (including VAT) and is co-financed by the Ministry of the Interior and the Municipality.

For many years, while lifeguard coverage tenders were issued, it was extremely difficult to attract interest midway through the summer season.

According to law, a beach is considered “crowded” if it has a daily average of at least 300 bathers per beach with a shoreline length of up to one kilometre (and similarly for each additional kilometre of shoreline) during peak periods.

Photo: Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipality