Summer beach safety scheme launched by 999 crews

L-R: Matthew Coote, fire service crew commander; Tim Tredant, RNLI lifeguard supervisor; Luke De La Haye, senior watch officer at Jersey Coastguard and Sgt David Bowler from Jersey Police

Emergency services in Jersey are urging beachgoers to take several steps to keep themselves and others safe this summer.

The island's ambulance, coastguard, fire, police and RNLI crews have launched the 2025 Building a Safer Community Beach initiative to highlight what people could do to enjoy visiting the coast responsibly.

Advice issued through the campaign included not leaving barbecues unattended, swim at lifeguarded beaches, collect rubbish and wear sunscreen.

Sgt David Bowler from Jersey Police said the scheme's first year in 2024 proved to be a success and the emergency services wanted to build on it.

He added: "We're coming together to make sure every organisation can club together to try and make the beaches a safer place for islanders and tourists alike."

Crews involved in the scheme said working together as a team could help spread the safety message to a wider audience.

Matthew Coote, a fire service crew commander, said: "Doing small things like soaking a disposable barbecue with water to make sure it's cooled down and covering the sand underneath it with some fresh sand is always a good thing to do.

"The last thing that we'd want is a child or a pet like a dog walking over that and burning their feet."