Canary Islands aim to improve communication for drowning prevention
The Government of the Canary Islands held, on Friday at the Presidency in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the I Pedagogical Communication Forum. The event called for the creation of an integrated protocol among emergency services, the media and public administration, with unified and accountable channels to prevent drownings.
“Improving communication during a coastal incident strengthens existing coordination among the various services and public administrations, and it serves as a means of prevention and protection for citizens, helping to avoid similar incidents along the islands’ coasts,” the regional government said in a press release.
The two‑day forum, coordinated by rescue‑law expert Eduardo Blasco, comprised three panels of presentation and debate. Participants highlighted the urgent transformation needed in communication, management and prevention of coastal emergencies.
First Panel – Emergency Services and the Media
The discussion focused on reinforcing the current relationship between emergency responders and journalists, and on leveraging the pedagogical potential of emergency resources to turn news reports into preventive content that can reduce future risks.
Traditional Channels
Speakers stressed that traditional communication channels must not be overlooked, as not all population segments have access to—or are comfortable with—social media and other new technologies.
Panelists:
- Sergio Martín Jiménez – journalist, La Sexta Noticias
- José Carlos Fraile Martínez – journalist, Grupo Atresmedia
- Alba Iruela León – digital video editor, 20 Minutos
- Pedro Fumero Álvarez – journalist, Prensa Ibérica (El Día)
- Purificación Belén Fernández Jiménez – journalist and screenwriter, El País
- Jon Jiménez Díaz de Heredia – GCPGP, Master’s in Journalism, Cadena SER
- Sara Rincón – journalist, La Sexta
- Francisco Fajardo – journalist, Canarias 7
Second Panel – Professional Experiences in Emergencies
Through dialogue and shared ideas, participants concluded that a key solution is to establish a single, officially recognized corps of lifeguards with regulated training and authority powers, enabling them to identify and sanction reckless behavior in critical situations.
Curricular Training
The need to integrate drowning‑prevention education into primary and secondary school curricula was also highlighted, aiming to inform and promote safety awareness from an early age.
Panelists:
- Jesús Gómez Santos – Head of Civil Protection and Emergencies (CECOPAL), Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council
- Tinguaro Méndez Medina – Sub‑inspector, Local Police of San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- Yeray Cerdeña Espinel – Local police officer, La Oliva, Fuerteventura
- Néstor Padrón Castañeda – Head of Technical Security and Civil Protection, Tenerife Island Council
- Dolores Septién Terreros – Head of the Tenerife Rescue Coordination Center
- Montserrat Román Casamartina – Head of Civil Protection, Canary Islands Government
- Candelaria Ceballos Quintero – Communication Technician (Press) for 112 in the Canary Islands
Third Panel – Administrative Coordination
Representatives of the autonomous and local administrations emphasized the urgency of establishing a common communication channel linking emergency resources, security forces, health personnel and lifeguards.
Surveillance Beyond the High Season
The proposed channel would operate under a single direction, guaranteeing timely information to victims and the media, and defining the start and end of sea‑search operations. Additional recommendations included:
- Creating synergies with the tourism sector to enhance coastal safety and run preventive campaigns at the point of origin.
- Revising investment criteria for coastal sites based on the number of bathers rather than municipal population.
- Extending coastal monitoring and security beyond the peak tourist season.
Panelists:
- Gladis De León – Deputy Mayor for Security, Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council
- Marcos José Lorenzo Martín – Vice‑Councillor for Emergencies and Water, Canary Islands Government
- Patricia Paulsen Fölling – Councillor for Tourist Destination, Adeje City Council
- Eduardo Blasco – Lawyer and rescue expert
Motivational Talk – “Life Lesson”
The forum concluded with a motivational by Javier Rosquete Delgado, who recounted his daily life after a beach accident that left him severely disabled. He described how he turned his experience into an opportunity to raise awareness among young people through school‑based conferences.
The article reflects the outcomes of the I Pedagogical Communication Forum and the regional government’s commitment to drowning‑prevention strategies across the Canary Islands.