Government Pushes for Drowning Prevention

Manuel Miranda highlights the impact of the campaign, which aims to foster a culture of self‑protection when using beach areas.

The Canary Islands Government’s Department of Territorial Policy, Cohesion and Waters has launched a communication campaign to promote the safe use of bathing zones throughout the archipelago. The initiative has already amassed more than 2.3 million views across the platforms where it has been disseminated.

The campaign consists of ten short, educational videos presented by Eduardo Blasco, world champion in lifesaving and rescue and a globally recognised expert in aquatic safety.

Key messages from the regional minister

“We must keep promoting personal self‑protection habits when using the various bathing zones that exist in the Canary Islands, as a formula to reduce the dozens of accidents that occur each year on our coasts,” said Manuel Miranda, head of the department and responsible for emergencies.
“In 2025, a total of 48 people have lost their lives as a result of these accidents.”

Miranda added that the goal is to instill knowledge about the risks associated with accessing the archipelago’s more than 15,000 km of coastline. “We provide tools and information so that the number of incidents declines in the future; we must become aware and adopt a prevention culture that saves lives,” he emphasized.

How the campaign reaches the public

• Social‑media channels: Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, targeting audiences from teenagers to adults over 30.
• Traditional media: Television, press and radio, ensuring coverage at both regional and national levels.

The videos, developed under Blasco’s technical guidance, are based on real‑life situations, which adds credibility to each intervention. Their content covers:

• Interpretation of beach‑area signage.
• Dangers stemming from over‑confidence among locals.
• Special precautions for visitors unfamiliar with the coastline.
• The role of emergency‑service professionals as guardians of swimmers’ safety.

By combining an audiovisual approach with expert insight, the campaign seeks to promote safe habits on the coasts and raise awareness of the hazards linked to improper use of bathing zones.