39 people have drowned in Israel since the start of the summer bathing season in May, compared with 22 over the corresponding period of 2015, the Magen David Adom ambulance service reports. In fact, the number of fatalities already surpasses all of last year, when 33 people drowned during the May 9 to October 31 bathing season, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Furthermore, Magen David Adom has already handled 184 people who needed treatment after getting into difficulties in the sea, compared with 100 over the same period last year.
One of the reasons for the rise in numbers may have been sanctions by lifeguards during a work dispute in the first five weeks of the bathing season. However, Lifeguards Association chairman Avi Affia rejects any culpability. "If we weren't at our stations, then supervisors and police were meant to be patrolling the beaches to ensure than nobody was swimming."
Maged David Adom statistics show that three times more boys and men are drowned in Israel than girls and women. Eleven of the fatalities this year have been tourists with many overseas tourists lulled into a false sense of security by the ostensibly calm Mediterranean and unaware that there is a strong under-current. Others claim that global climate change is causing the currents to become stronger.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 14, 2016
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