Rick Wright, Chair of the ILS Rescue and Education Commission reported that the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) Working Group on Signage approved a large number of the ILS General Water Safety Signs, which are included on the Rescue and Education short list.
These Standards were approved by the Board of Directors on 20 February 2004.
These international standards have been developed by the International Lifesaving Federation by adopting and adapting the best practiseâ„¢ exercised by member federations from throughout the world.
The following flags approved were:
Rick Wright, Chair of the ILS Rescue and Education Commission reported that the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) Working Group on Signage approved a large number of the ILS General Water Safety Signs, which are included on the Rescue and Education short list.
These Standards were approved by the Board of Directors on 20 February 2004.
These international standards have been developed by the International Lifesaving Federation by adopting and adapting the best practise’ exercised by member federations from throughout the world.
The following flags approved were:
– Red/yellow (halved red over yellow): The area is protected by lifeguards. These flags may be used in pairs spaced apart to indicate a designated area or zone along a beach or waterfront that is most closely supervised or patrolled by qualified lifeguards, and where swimming and/or body surfing is permitted. These flags may be used singly to indicate that swimming is permitted in front of the area where the flag is flown and that the area is under the supervision of a qualified person.
– Yellow: Medium hazard. Moderate surf and/or currents are present. Weak swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. For others, enhanced care and caution should be exercised.
– Red: High hazard. Rough conditions such as strong surf and/or currents are present. All swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. Those entering the water should take great care.
– Quartered (black/white): These flags may be used in pairs spaced apart to indicate a designated area or zone along a beach or waterfront that is used by those with surfboards and other non-powered watercraft.
– Orange windsock: This cone shaped device is used to indicate the direction of offshore winds and to show that it is unsafe for inflatable objects to be used in the water.
ILS managed to get the red and white quartered flag approved to indicate Sharks etc.
The ILS flags were also approved, with the exception of the ‘Red over Red’ and the ‘Purple’ for marine pests, the Yellow with Black Ball.
International standardisation of beach safety flags can be expected to greatly improve understanding of water users with respect to beach conditions and rules, particularly when visiting countries other than their own. It will reduce language barriers. This standardisation can therefore be expected to reduce the likelihood of death and injury, furthering the primary goal of ILS: world water safety.
The meeting with ISO was ground breaking, as this field was totally new to ISO and through the persistence of ILS it has finally paid off.
The Working group has planned a meeting in Viareggio, Italy from 8-10th September prior to ILS meetings. This meeting will further discuss water safety signage and confirm the words and guidelines for signs and flag use etc and start the long process of getting the world standard in place, which will take about 18 months for full approval and sign off by ISO countries and publication.