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Italy uses prisoners as beach lifeguards to combat lifeguard shortage
Italy has launched the "Io salvo" programme, a partnership between the Borgo San Nicola prison in Lecce, the regional beach bathing association of Apulia and local authorities, to employ inmates as beach lifeguards. Each day twelve prisoners are bused to the Mediterranean coast, work on the beach under supervision and return to their cells in the evening. The inmates complete a three‑month training course inside the prison covering beach regulations, safety procedures and first‑aid, including defibrillator use.
The pilot targets a chronic shortage of lifeguards on Italy’s more than 5,000 beaches. Official figures list 11,000‑15,000 lifeguards in service, but estimates indicate a gap of 3,000‑4,000. Law requires a lifeguard every 150 metres and a minimum age of 18. In the first weeks of the experiment no incidents were reported and no inmate tried to evade duties.
At the same time, the German state of Hessen is testing alternative measures, such as employing refugees and using artificial‑intelligence tools, to fill its own lifeguard shortfall.
Entities
Borgo San Nicola prison · Hessen · Io salvo programme · Italy · Regional beach bathing association of Apulia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The German state of Hessen is experimenting with using refugees and artificial intelligence to address its lifeguard shortage. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Twelve prisoners are transported each morning by bus to the Mediterranean coast and return to their cells each evening. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The programme involves the Borgo San Nicola prison in Lecce cooperating with the regional beach bathing association and authorities. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Inmates receive a three‑month training course covering beach regulations, safety rules and first‑aid, including defibrillator use. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Italy has more than 5,000 beaches and between 11,000 and 15,000 lifeguards, but an estimated shortage of 3,000‑4,000 lifeguards. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Italy has launched a program called 'Io salvo' that employs prison inmates as beach lifeguards. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Law requires a lifeguard every 150 metres and a minimum age of 18 for lifeguards. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] In the first weeks of the pilot, no incidents were reported and no inmate attempted to avoid duties. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de