Canary Islands Launch Safety Campaign Ahead of Easter Tourist Surge

To manage the surge in visitors during the Easter holidays, the Canary Islands’ 112 emergency service has launched a new preventive campaign. Titled "Take a selfie with your safety," the initiative uses social media platforms like Instagram and X to share essential safety tips and reduce the number of accidents.

Last year, the 112 service handled 15,280 incidents across the islands. Medical emergencies made up half of these cases, while public safety issues accounted for 31.5%. The remaining incidents involved land and sea rescues, fires, and technical assistance. Geographically, 53.8% of these alerts occurred in the province of Las Palmas, with the remaining 46.1% in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The government is focusing heavily on education to improve response times. This includes teaching children how to use the emergency number and advising the public on how to stay safe. The Civil Guard recommends that people avoid posting about their holiday plans on social media to prevent home burglaries and suggests staying alert in crowded areas to avoid theft.

Safety in natural areas is also a priority. Authorities are reminding beachgoers to always follow the flag system and lifeguard instructions. For those heading out to hike, the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) stresses the importance of planning ahead: check the difficulty of the trail, tell someone where you are going, and stay calm if you run into trouble.

By promoting these self-protection habits, 112 Canarias hopes to move beyond just reacting to crises and instead help citizens stay safe during busy tourist seasons.