Published 01 September 2026 | Health

TL;DR: The “¡Prevenidos, listos, ya!” campaign brought free drowning-prevention and emergency-response training to El Zapillo and Aguadulce , covering water safety, safe rescue and CPR.

Beach safety lessons at two beaches

Fundación Mapfre, working with the Grupo de Socorrismo of the Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES), brought its “¡Prevenidos, listos, ya!” campaign to beaches in the province of Almeria last weekend.

The initiative was designed to give the public practical guidance on preventing drownings, responding safely to people in difficulty and providing first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The sessions were free and open to people of all ages.

Activities took place at El Zapillo beach in Almeria on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August, from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00. On Sunday 30 August, the campaign moved to Aguadulce beach in Roquetas de Mar, where sessions ran from 11:00 to 16:00.

The organisers said the three days attracted strong participation from both adults and children.

Three beach learning areas

Three themed marquees were set up beside the beach. Visitors could move through each area to learn about three parts of an emergency response: preventing problems in the water, carrying out a safe rescue and giving first aid.

The activities followed what the campaign describes as the drowning chain of survival. This includes five key actions: preventing a drowning in and around the water, identifying an emergency and calling for assistance, providing flotation, entering the water only when it is safe and the person knows how to do so, and requesting medical help when necessary.

The first section, titled “Prevenidos”, focused on reducing risks before anyone enters the water. Participants were shown the importance of checking sea conditions, following beach flags and the instructions of lifeguards, and choosing supervised bathing areas.

The advice also included avoiding swimming alone, steering clear of risky behaviour, keeping active watch over children and not overestimating personal swimming ability.

Safe help from shore

The “Listos” section addressed a common danger during rescue attempts: assuming that helping someone means immediately entering the water.

When a person is in trouble, the first step should be to call 112 and alert a lifeguard. The person in difficulty should be kept in sight, while flotation equipment can be used from a safe position whenever possible.

This approach is intended to reduce the risk of a second victim. An untrained or poorly planned attempt to enter the water can place the rescuer in danger as well, particularly when the situation is developing quickly.

The campaign’s guidance stresses that a response should begin with getting professional help and choosing the safest available way to provide assistance.

Rapid emergency response

Under the “Ya” section, visitors learned why speed matters when someone has been involved in a drowning incident. The emergency services should be activated as quickly as possible, and CPR should be started when needed.

The training highlighted beginning CPR with five rescue breaths, which the organisers identify as especially relevant in drowning cases. The sessions were intended to give members of the public a clearer idea of what to do while waiting for professional assistance.

The campaign also underlined that drownings may happen quickly and without obvious noise or warning. They can be difficult to recognise, even when the incident unfolds within seconds.

A continuing public health concern

The organisers describe drowning as a significant public health problem. In Spain, an estimated 400 to 600 people drown each year. For every death, between three and five people are estimated to attend hospital emergency departments following water-related incidents.

The latest figures cited by the campaign recorded more than 200 people who had died at the scene in aquatic environments in Spain between 1 January and 30 June 2026.

Against that background, the organisers say prevention, active supervision and an appropriate response are essential to reducing serious consequences. The Almeria sessions aimed to make those messages practical, helping people recognise hazards, behave more safely around water and avoid taking actions that could put another life at risk.

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