HOTEL POLICY MANUAL

TITLE: SIGNAGE & REGULATIONS DIVISION: Recreation

No: 1 – Flags / Beach Supervision CROSS REF. (Policy #):
PREPARED BY: Alexander Ivanov—Health Club &
Recreation Assistant Manager
APPROVED BY: Adrian Rudin General Manager
DISTRIBUTED TO: General Manager, Resident Manager, EAM-Rooms, and all Health
Club Staff

It is a policy of Shangri-La’s Qaryat Al Beri Resort & Spa for Beach Lifeguards to
comply with the following procedure.

PURPOSE:
To know the International meaning of the beach flags and thus to inform guests when they
look at them.

DESCRIPTION:
We use different flags posted on the beach and flying from the lifeguard towers to represent
ocean hazards and surf conditions, and to designate appropriate and safe areas for
swimming, surfing, and other recreational activities. Advisement flags are designed to raise
awareness about the hazards the ocean presents on a specific day. It is important to
remember, however, that the ocean can be hazardous on any given day and must never be
assumed completely safe. Ocean conditions are unpredictable and can go from mild to
extreme in a short period of time. Always check with the lifeguard on duty if you are unsure
of the ocean conditions.

Green Flags denote areas that swimming are supervised and are safe to
swim in. The lifeguard chair is located in the middle of the swimming area. Lifeguards are
the first points of contact in an emergency. Lifeguards are trained in CPR, life support for
professional rescuers, and life saving techniques. The flag system is an additional method
of communication with the public for maintaining water safety.

Yellow flags denote that swimming is allowed but with caution. Swimmers
need to adapt their behavior accordingly.

Red flags denote that the swimming area is temporarily closed and people

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must not go in the water at all. The lifeguard supervisor or Health Club management will
determine when it is safe to go in the water and will post the appropriate flags. Reasons for
red flags can be weather conditions such as lightening, environmental hazards such as
excessive jellyfish, poor visibility or weather conditions, or any other unsafe condition.

Red and Yellow Flags - The area is protected by lifeguards. These flags
may be used in pairs spaced apart to indicate a designated area or zone along a beach or
waterfront that is most closely supervised or patrolled by qualified lifeguards, and where
swimming and/or body surfing is permitted.

These flags may be used singly to indicate that swimming is permitted in front of the area
where the flag is flown and that the area is under the supervision of a qualified person

Black And White Flags These flags may be used in pairs spaced apart to
indicate a designated area or zone along a beach or waterfront that is used by those with
surfboards and other non-powered watercraft.

Purple – Marine pests, such as jellyfish, stingrays, sea snakes or other

marine life which can cause minor injuries are present in the water. This flag is not intended
to indicate the presence of sharks. In this latter case the red flag or double red flag may be
hoisted.

Orange windsock – This cone shaped device is used to

indicate the direction of offshore winds and to show that it is unsafe for inflatable objects to
be used in the water.

Yellow flag with central black ball – Surfboards and other non-powered
watercraft are prohibited.

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Signs denoting the flag color key are posted strategically in main shoreline public
beach access areas.
To ensure water users and members of the public are aware of the meaning of flags, beach
users must be informed through signs, brochures, or similar means. The text may be fixed
to the flagpole, or indicated on an information board or facility at the entrance to an aquatic
location.

The text must be as brief as possible and give the prime meaning of the flag when hoisted.
Consideration must be given to the erection of information boards/notices, particularly at
the entry points to aquatic locations. The information contained must included detail of the
meaning of flags, locations and times of operation. This information may also be included in
‘tourist’ leaflets and publicity material.

Design specifications – All flags are 750mm by 1000 mm and may be made of polyester
or other suitable material.

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Flag
Meaning
Pantone
(PMS)
Shape

Yellow
Medium
hazard
PMS – 123
Rectangle

Red
High
hazard
PMS – 186
Rectangle

Red over
Red
Water
closed to
public use
PMS – 186
Rectangles

Purple
Marine
pests
present
PMS – 266
Rectangle

Red over
Yellow
Recommen
ded
swimming
area with
lifeguard
supervision
PMS – 186
PMS – 123
Rectangle
with equal,
parallel
halves.

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