Seventy-five Beach Emergency Number signs to be installed at Geraldton beaches for faster emergency responses

An extra precaution to keep Geraldton beaches safe will be added this summer, with 75 Beach Emergency Number signs to be installed in the coming weeks. Each BEN sign has a unique code that a person can give when calling triple-0, allowing emergency responders to know instantly which beach the incident is at. The City of Greater Geraldton said it worked with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to identify 75 beach access points which would benefit from having BEN signs. Mayor Shane Van Styn said BEN signs had been an important system for allowing faster and more accurate responses to a wide range of emergencies since they were introduced to WA in 2017. “Since the signs have been in place, they have been primarily used to identify the locations of people seeking emergency services ranging from shark incidents, jellyfish stings to diving and surfing accidents,” he said. “Over the years, the signs have also been used to report disturbances, assist with search-and-rescue activities, and to even report shark sightings.” The City took the opportunity to remind people they could report shark sightings on the SharkSmart website, SharkSmart WA app, the Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed, or via the water police by phoning 9442 8600. BEN signs were introduced in the wake of the shark attack that claimed the life of surfer Ben Gerring in 2016 near Mandurah.