The “Safety First!” Project Successfully Completed

On 2 February 2019, the project implemented by the Ventspils Digital Centre, “Development of Coordination and Capacity Building for Rescuers on the Baltic Sea Coast” (abbreviated as – Safety First!), No. LLI-92, was successfully completed.

The implementation of the “Safety First!” project began in April 2017 and lasted 22 months. The aim of the project was to enhance the capacity of rescuers in Latvia and Lithuania, inform residents and tourists about safe recreation on the beach, and modernise equipment.

As part of the project, the Ventspils Digital Centre carried out the following main activities:

• A radio communication network compliant with European Union standards was established in Ventspils. TETRA digital radio technology is a generally accepted radio communication system in Europe for such critical communications, used by police officers, medical personnel, firefighters, and others.
• The digital format ensures very good voice quality and additional functions that improve work convenience, reduce response times, enhance work safety, and ensure the confidentiality of transmissions;
• Information boards were created and attached to the changing cabins at Ventspils Beach. The boards present basic recommendations for safe recreation by the sea;
• Employees of the Ventspils Municipal Police, including beach rescuers, enhanced their capacity by participating in a total of four theoretical seminars and two practical training sessions in Latvia and Lithuania.

The lead partner of the project was the Ventspils Digital Centre. The project partners were the State Fire and Rescue Services of Latvia and Lithuania, the Municipality of Liepāja, the Municipality of Pāvilosta, and the Municipality of Neringa (Lithuania).

The total project budget was EUR 589,337, of which the budget of the Ventspils municipal government amounted to EUR 171,609; 85% of this amount was co-financed by the European Union and 5% was provided as a state budget grant.