A GROWING network of electronic sensors fitted to Swansea’s public water rescue aids is helping keep people safe by making it easier to spot when life-saving equipment has been used, moved or tampered with.
Swansea Council now has over 40 Public Rescue Aid (PRA) units fitted with these sensors across key waterside locations, including the River Tawe, Swansea Marina, and – ahead of the summer season – further planned installations at Singleton Lake, Mumbles Promenade, Bracelet Bay and the beaches at Caswell and Langland.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Councillor Andrew Stevens, said the technology is already playing an important role in protecting lives.
He said: “These sensors are a simple but powerful way of helping us keep people safe. When lifesaving equipment goes missing or is moved, it puts the public at real risk.
“By alerting us quickly, the sensors mean we can respond faster, replace equipment sooner and make sure rescue aids are where they need to be when someone needs them most. This work is all about saving lives and supporting our emergency services.”
When a rescue aid is opened or disturbed, the system automatically alerts the Council’s Water Safety Team. This enables officers to visit the site within 24 hours and replace the equipment if needed, adding an important layer of protection on top of the team’s routine two-weekly physical inspections carried out throughout the year.
Swansea Council’s Water Safety Co-Ordinator, Andrew Suter, says the technology is already proving invaluable in real incidents, not just routine maintenance.
Andrew explained: “I received a phone call from the police to say that they had used a rescue ring in the River Tawe during a rescue. I’d already been alerted by the system that a rescue aid had been opened, so we were able to replace it the very next day.”
This example shows how the system directly benefits the local community and highlights the strong partnership between Swansea Council and emergency services in protecting residents and visitors around the city’s waters.
The Council will continue to expand and develop the use of sensors across the network of rescue aids as part of its commitment to improving water safety and ensuring lifesaving equipment always remains available and in good condition.
