Safe swimming in Nice: some reminders

Green flag: safe to swim

A simple system of colour-coded flags is in place to keep the public constantly informed of the swimming conditions. In ‘traffic-light’ style, a bright red flag is flown above aid stations where bathing is forbidden; amber indicates beaches where swimming can be dangerous but is under surveillance; and a green flag means supervisors are on hand but there is no particular danger. Taking notice of these signals is essential to safety.

The areas of monitored bathing in Nice are located to the right hand side of the following aid stations: Carras, Sainte Hélène, Bambou, Magnan, Forum, Lido, Centenaire, Beau rivage, Ponchettes, Coco Beach and Poincaré. Monitoring takes place between the hours of 9am and 6.30pm until September 12th (August 31st for Bambou and Coco Beach).

In addition to these emergency stations, city officials have installed four emergency call terminals that enable direct access to intervention services. The Tour Rouge aquatic centre also has four divers available 24/7 for life-saving emergencies, whilst lifeboats, a jetski and a helicopter patrol the water itself. Yellow buoys indicate the zones in which activities such as jet-skiing and parasailing are permitted.

Bathers are also reminded to follow basic guidelines such as swimming parallel to the beach and near to an aid station, avoiding entering the water when it is rough, and closely monitoring bathing children. After several tragic incidents of drowning along the coast this summer - invloving swimmers of all ages and abilities - it makes sense to pay heed to the warnings and to enjoy the sea as safely as you can.

IY