From Nice airport to Cap d ‘Antibes, the 34 volunteers of the National Sea Rescue Society (SNSM) of the Cros-de-Cagnes resort ensure the safety of all users of the sea. ” The problem is that we are experiencing a bad development of people who own a boat or who rent it, says station president Philippe Giraud. We have consumers of the seas and no longer boaters ”.
“The life jacket on the Côte d’Azur is hardly ever used because of bad tan lines, adds Gil Rochette, the boss, the one who drives the Vedette Marguerite 6. What people ignore when they rent, c t is that you still have to have reflexes on the boat, be sure that it is well maintained, that it has been out several times before setting off. So, to get the message across to the population, the rescuers organized an awareness day in Villeneuve-Loubet, on the Fighière beach.
“We may all need to call on these people one day”
For the occasion, a helicopter from the French Navy, based in Hyères, in the Var, came to demonstrate. Deprived of swimming for two hours, the beach attendants still greeted the show. “It was unexpected, exclaims Nathalie, who came with her grandchildren. I had never seen how it was. It’s great that they show people what they’re actually doing. It impresses and at the same time, it serves as a reminder to be careful in the water ”.
Jean-Pierre, Fabienne and Sören, who have come to enjoy the pebbles with the family, applaud the initiative. ” Everybody is concerned. We may all need to call on these people one day. Rescue simulation is a good medium to get the message across, but we should especially stress the role and dedication of rescuers. “
Dedication, commitment, this is exactly how the members of the Cros-de-Cagnes resort describe their action. “I was born at the water’s edge, it was normal for me to be part of the association” says the dean, Mario, 82 years old, lifeguard since 1992. The latest arrival is Vanessa, hostess of the ‘air, who wanted to “link the passion for the sea with volunteering”. She insists on the importance of these awareness days: “There should be more, especially in our territory. Just around me, I see that some go to sea without even knowing the emergency numbers. It is however the base ”.
“Rescue at sea is a number, number 196”
The boss of La Vedette insists on safety at sea during a demonstration by the beach. “If an accident happens at sea, you have to call 196. The Cross Med [Centre régional opérationnel de surveillance et de sauvetage] determine what is needed for the response, a helicopter or the Speedboat. But the faster we call the right number, the faster we are rescued. On our side, in ten minutes, we must be at the boat ”. He then explains what to do in order not to put yourself in danger and take responsibility, how to use the white box that is in each boat, what you find inside, “to use if you sink.” Which is a liferaft. He recalls: “Obviously you have to put on the life jacket”.
“But does he do all this at sea?” », Asks a spectator when she sees Sylvain, Petty Officer, who was in the helicopter a few minutes before. The helicopter diver now shows, on the beach, how he proceeded with the stretcher for the helicopter hoisting. “It’s great to be able to share this. It’s always complicated to explain my job in words. There, it is effective, he comments. We never really realize but we descend with a 0.8 cm cable, in a sometimes rough sea, we do not know if the boat can overturn. There is always a little apprehension, but once the procedure is over, it is an incredible feeling to have succeeded in saving people ”.