Lifeguards – the silent heroes of the beach – Da Nang English- News

While walking on the beaches of Thanh Khe district in particular, and the city in general, residents and tourists can easily spot lifeguards from the Son Tra Peninsula Management Board and Da Nang Tourist Beaches. Their mission is to ensure the safety of residents and visitors while they are swimming.

Nguyen Van Xuan and his colleagues are always vigilant, ensuring the safety of residents and tourists at Xuan Ha Beach.

The job of a beach lifeguard is unique because the person in this job has to face the challenges posed by violent waves. With the arrival of the tourist season in Da Nang, the influx of tourists and residents to the beaches increases, making the job of lifeguards even more demanding.

Every day, from 4:30 am to 8:30 am and from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Lifeguard Team 13 focuses intensely on their duties at Xuan Ha Beach in Thanh Khe District. Dressed in yellow shirts and red shorts, they start their day at dawn by swimming to place flags in deep waters and current areas, then returning to shore to monitor swimmers.

During their surveillance, if they see someone swimming beyond the safety zone, they whistle to warn them to return to shore. During the peak tourist season, the number of swimmers increases significantly, requiring them to be on duty 10 to sometimes 12 hours a day to ensure absolute safety on Xuan Ha Beach.

In addition, to minimize risks, the lifeguard team creates safe swimming areas daily, depending on the tides and times, thus ensuring safety and peace of mind for tourists.

Tran Manh Ninh, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said he felt very safe thanks to the presence of lifeguards at Da Nang Beach. Thanks to this, his family was able to enjoy the summer in the cool water without fear of any danger.

Dang Van Sy, a member of Lifeguard Team 13, explained that he had been doing this job for nearly five years. Come rain or shine, they were always on duty. For him and his teammates, it was not only a job to earn a living, but also a responsibility to the community. The sea was vast and there were many people; therefore, ordinary people were overwhelmed. However, the lifeguards always kept an eye out for any unusual signs and acted quickly.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Xuan, the leader of Rescue Team 13, said his most memorable moment happened more than a month ago. It was around 7:10 a.m. and the sea was calm when suddenly screams rang out from the water. He and his teammates swam to save a tourist, using their professional skills and experience to provide first aid and ensure her safety.

Xuan doesn’t remember how many people he and his colleagues have saved, but they view the rescue as a mission to protect human lives.

In addition to possessing lifesaving skills, quick reaction, and excellent swimming abilities, lifeguards must remain calm when approaching a victim to ensure their own safety and that of the person in distress. During drowning incidents, victims often panic; if they approach the lifeguard incorrectly, the lifeguard may be grabbed tightly, putting both at risk of being submerged.

With six years of experience, lifeguard Nguyen Van Anh explained that during the sunny season, the beach is very crowded on weekends, especially during the city’s fireworks competitions. He said that amidst this sea of ​​people, he must remain very focused to quickly identify and help anyone in danger. He noted that his team has rescued many people swept away by the waves, and each rescue brings them joy and pride. However, they also face significant challenges and risks.

After the morning and afternoon rush hours, team members take turns to provide surveillance for the rest of the day. They are dedicated and quick to handle various situations on the more than one-kilometre stretch of beach they manage, from Ton That Dam Street to Ha Khe Street.

In their outdoor work, employees must first and foremost have a sense of responsibility and abide by the unit’s rules, without ever losing sight of their goal. Protecting the safety of residents and tourists also strengthens Da Nang’s image as a tourist-friendly city.

As Thanh Khe Beach is a tourist destination, lifeguards consider themselves guides who truly love their job and remain dedicated.

“To excel in this role, team members must continually improve their fitness and swimming abilities, and keep abreast of weather conditions to adjust our plans accordingly. We rely on the cooperation and support of residents and tourists to effectively fulfill our responsibilities,” Xuan stressed.

Report by ANH LINH – Translation by TRUC VY