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Beach safety to be promoted on Qantas flights

Beach safety messages are being included as part of Qantas in-flight public announcements.

The airline has partnered with Surf Life Saving to help keep tourists and international visitors safe on Australian beaches.

Cabin crew will be encouraging safe beach visits by advising passengers to always swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach where they will be watched over by surf lifesavers and lifeguards.

International tourists, in particular, are rescued or lose their lives each year on Australian beaches. Many coastal drowning victims are often unfamiliar with the specific hazards of the surf environment.

The announcements will start next week across a number of regional, domestic and international routes on arrival into Australia and run throughout the peak southern hemisphere summer swimming period until April.

The messages will also be delivered in different languages on some inbound flights to Australia.

Many Qantas staff and crew are part of the Surf Life Saving movement, as volunteer surf lifesavers or surf club members.

Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir said: “Millions of people visit our beautiful beaches each summer and unfortunately many of them find themselves in trouble simply because they aren’t used to the surf conditions.

“We are pleased that our beach safety campaign is getting an additional voice via our national carrier and given they carry a large percentage of our international visitors to Australia, we are hopeful this support with messaging will really help saves lives.”

Qantas chief customer officer Vanessa Hudson said: “Qantas flies to destinations that boast some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches and we also have some of the best surf lifesavers in the world.

“We are keen to remind visitors via a friendly PA that the best way to enjoy the beach and catch their Qantas flight back home safely is to swim between flags at a patrolled beach.”

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