Adeje Town Hall has launched a new water safety initiative titled “Know the sea, stay safe”, aimed at raising awareness and preventing water-related accidents among both residents and visitors to the municipality
The campaign is led by the Department of Tourism, under councillor Patricia Paulsen Fölling, and combines information, surveillance and training. It involves coordination between Adeje Local Police, Civil Protection, Volunteer Firefighters, professional lifeguards, and aquatic safety expert Eduardo Blasco.
The initiative has been launched during the winter months, a particularly busy period in Costa Adeje. Mild and stable temperatures throughout the year mean that swimming remains common outside the summer season, making prevention and public awareness especially important.
The campaign focuses on providing accessible information, practical advice and behavioural guidelines for safe enjoyment of the sea, with particular attention given to the most frequently used swimming areas in Adeje. Measures include coastal signage, social media outreach, training resources and collaboration with public safety and healthcare services.
“We understand that knowing the sea is not just an informative message, but a safety tool that saves lives,” said councillor Patricia Paulsen Fölling. She emphasised that the campaign helps people interpret sea conditions, understand how to react to swell, and adopt safer behaviour to reduce the risk of accidents.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over drowning statistics in the Canary Islands. In 2025, around 60 people lost their lives to drowning between January and November, averaging approximately five deaths per month. Imprudence has been identified as a leading cause in many cases. In the same period, nearly 187 people were affected by aquatic incidents on beaches and in swimming pools, ranging from minor to serious cases.
Tenerife has also experienced several serious incidents linked to swell events this year, with multiple fatalities and injuries requiring emergency intervention along different stretches of coastline.
Aquatic safety expert Eduardo Blasco, who contributed to the design of the campaign, stressed that “understanding the signs of the sea, respecting official alerts and adopting prudent behaviour are key to enjoying aquatic environments.” He added that the best form of prevention is to know the environment before entering the water, respect safety rules and never underestimate currents or sudden changes in conditions.
This first phase of the campaign is aimed at the general public, including both residents and visitors, reinforcing essential self-protection messages and responsible use of the coastline year-round. Adeje Town Hall is already preparing a second phase for summer 2026, which will focus particularly on young people and aim to prevent risky practices such as jumping from rocks or breakwaters, promoting a safer and more informed relationship with the sea.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Adeje – Department of Tourism
Date: 3 January 2026
Reference: “Adeje promotes the campaign ‘Know the sea, stay safe’ to prevent drownings”