Qatar Red Crescent Society’s (QRCS) Medical Affairs Department has served 4,039 people since 2010 as part of its marine rescue programme conducted at the Sealine resort.
The programme is run under an MoU with Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).
During the six years, QRCS handled 347 drowning cases, 1,851 injuries, 1,841 referrals to QRCS’s clinic and 110 referrals to Hamad General Hospital (HGH), as well as hundreds of warnings for risky behaviour.
According to a report issued by the QRCS Medical Affairs Department, 33% of the drowning cases were ascribed to drifting, compared to swimming illiteracy (28%), physical fatigue (20%), and other causes (19%).
The programme is monitored closely in conjunction with QOC in line with its overall objective, using follow-up data from the records of the emergency, ambulance, and rescue centre.
In relation to the implementation, QRCS co-ordinates with QOC for funding, monitoring, and recommendations. An engineering office is hired to support and facilitate the work.
Other partners include the Ministry of Interior’s Coasts and Borders Security Department and South Security Department. 
The Ministry of Public Health is contacted for medical licensing, and Hamad Medical Corporation is contacted to receive serious cases.
The resources of the programme comprise six lifeguards, an ambulance, one doctor, and two nurses permanently stationed at QRCS’s clinic in QOC’s Sealine camp.
The staff are required to pass a test of swimming 400 metres in less than 10 minutes. They also attend basic and advanced training courses in first aid, marine rescue, and Jet Ski rescue.

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