The two drowning deaths of two three-year-old children in swimming pools in Mallorca in less than a week have reopened the debate on safety measures in houses dedicated to tourist rentals. Beyond the responsibilities that the investigations determine, maritime rescue professionals, such as pool lifeguards, agree that there are actions that could reduce the risk of an oversight ending in tragedy.

The Unión Socorristas Mallorca union reported this Thursday the lack of equipment and deficiencies in the infrastructure of Palma's rescue service, which they attribute to the "neglect and excuses" of the City Council. The protests have been made visible with a rally in Plaça de Cort and an intervention during the municipal plenary session.

Dozens of lifeguards demonstrated simultaneously in Palma and Ibiza to protest against the amendment to Decree 2/2005 regulating their work on beaches. According to the professionals, the proposed amendment establishes a non-preventive lifeguarding model, which contemplates the placement of towers 800 meters from the sidewalk. They also criticize the fact that it leads to increasingly shorter seasons, designed for tourists rather than residents.