Gyeongbuk Province to Operate '119 Citizen Lifeguard Squad' Starting July

119 Citizen Lifeguard Team.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Gyeongbuk Province is deploying and operating the ‘119 Citizen Water Rescue Team’ at major water recreation sites in the province to respond quickly to water play accidents during the summer vacation season and to prevent casualties.

The 119 Citizen Water Rescue Team is composed of volunteer firefighters, students, and private organizations, and 365 members will be deployed at 20 major water play locations such as local beaches, rivers, and valleys for two months from July to August.

They perform roles as water play safety guardians by providing life-saving and first aid to water recreation visitors, as well as CPR training, removal of hazardous substances such as jellyfish, and finding lost children.

They also carry out various activities to prevent safety accidents, such as conducting safety accident prevention campaigns targeting vacationers and residents, and conduct joint training with local governments, coast guard, police, and other related agencies to strengthen response capabilities in case of accidents.

To prevent water play safety accidents, life jackets will be rented free of charge on-site at four inland water locations, and a 119 mobile safety experience vehicle will be deployed at major beaches to provide customized water play safety education.

119 Citizen Lifeguard Team in action.

According to last year’s activity results, 9 people were rescued, 5 were transported to hospitals, 888 first aid cases were handled, and 3,859 safety measures were taken, showing that the team played a significant role not only in life-saving but also in preventing water play safety accidents.

Lee Young-pal, head of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Fire Headquarters, said, “This year, many residents are expected to visit water recreation sites due to the hot weather,” and urged, “Residents are asked to follow safety rules such as warming up, wearing life jackets, and prohibiting drinking.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.