Norwegian Cruise Lines announced on Thursday that they will start employing lifeguards this summer, a measure they deemed necessary for the security of their guests. One of the biggest cruise lines in the world, they are the third company to install this security measure.
By 2018, all Norwegian Cruise Line ships will have their own lifeguards that will be stationed at the pools during scheduled hours, according to Travel Market Report. These lifeguards will be properly trained in various rescue methods such as CPR and other American Red Cross-approved practices.
The fleet's four largest ships—Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic—are scheduled to have them first starting this summer. Although the company already have pool monitors onboard since 2015, adding properly-trained lifeguards will reduce the risk of drowning especially with children.
In a statement through Maritime Executive, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Andy Stuart said: "Norwegian has stationed pool monitors on our largest ships since 2015, and we are now taking further steps to ensure the safety of our youngest guests with the addition of certified lifeguards across our fleet. While parents are always the first line of supervision when it comes to water safety, we felt it was important to provide this added measure across our fleet."
Other added security measures to be added to the cruise line aside from stationing lifeguards include offering free swimming vests for both adults and kids. The fleet's four largest ships will get first dibs on this new offering as well.
A handful of drowning incidents has already happened at Norwegian Cruise Line. Last 2015, a 10-year-old girl died of drowning in a crowded pool on Norwegian Gem. And a year before that, two kids also drowned at the pool in Norwegian Breakaway. Unfortunately, only one of the two kids survived in the incident.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
