The Canary Islands’ Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Water, Manuel Miranda, presented 1,900 OneUp self-inflation devices to the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam). Fecam’s President and Mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, received the devices, which will be distributed by the regional government’s Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) across the 77 municipalities with bathing areas along the Archipelago’s coastline. The presentation of the devices took place at Puntalarga beach in Candelaria.
“The Government aims to enhance beach safety in the Canary Islands with this innovative equipment, particularly in areas without lifeguard services. It will provide civil protection services and local police with equipment that can be crucial in saving lives during emergencies,” explained Manuel Miranda.
As part of the distribution agreement with Fecam, 654 self-inflating life preservers will be allocated to municipalities in Tenerife, 418 to Gran Canaria, 167 to towns in La Palma, 82 to La Gomera, 36 to the three municipalities of El Hierro, 189 to Fuerteventura, and 354 to locations in Lanzarote.
This initiative will be complemented by a new emergency equipment program, financed with Feder funds, set to commence this year. It aims to equip over 750 bathing areas in the Islands with approximately 2,000 lifeguard totems – autonomous columns containing self-inflating devices that automatically alert the 1-1-2 coordination room in case of an incident. The OneUp inflates upon contact with water, with an easy-to-use mechanism. It weighs 390 grams, measures 18 centimeters, comes with a 25-meter orange floating rope, two carabiners for attachment, reflective stickers, and a waterproof cover, making it practical and easy to handle, potentially pivotal in saving lives along the archipelago’s coasts.
Moreover, the device can be deployed to assist individuals in distress in various scenarios – beaches, breakers, cliffs, docks, ponds or dams, high seas or ravine torrents, and can be launched from the shore, helicopters, different types of boats, and even drones, serving multiple purposes.
Furthermore, the Government has several ongoing initiatives to enhance security in the Islands’ bathing areas.
High Quality Tap Water in Candelaria
Following the rejection of a motion regarding the quality of drinking water during the Candelaria plenary session, managed by Aqualia since 1995, the Municipal Water Service assures that Candelaria’s tap water meets excellent quality standards and undergoes stringent quality and health controls, making it safe for human consumption.
The company, in collaboration with health authorities, aims to assure residents of the water’s high quality and compliance with the required self-control and comprehensive analyses in each supply area, based on consumption volume.
Furthermore, water management is strictly regulated and supervised by various public, state, regional, and municipal administrations across health, technical, financial, and management facets.
