Spain’s Ministry of the Interior has issued a warning to drivers this summer and some key safety tips. The ministry states: You might be away for a few days, but your security doesn’t go on holiday. Before leaving your car parked: Remove any valuables. Don’t leave documents in plain sight. Choose well-lit, busy areas, and make a note of where you’ve parked. Prevention is the best form of protection it warns.
With not only millions of Spanish residents taking to the roads over the summer, so too will be millions of tourists in rental cars. Recently, to protect hire cars, many of the rental agencies have taken their company logo stickers off their vehicles to prevent them standing out from the crowd. Hire cars have also become the target of violent anti-tourism groups across Spain, including Mallorca.
The warning came as Spain, along with much of the rest of Europe, basks in a heatwave. The ministry, in a separate post, had other advice for people to help them stay safe. It said: “In the forest, every gesture counts.
“Don’t throw away cigarette butts or matches. Don’t make fire outside of authorised areas. Don’t abandon flammable waste.” It added: “With heat and wind, the risk increases. A small oversight can turn into a big fire. “.
Over the past ten days in Mallorca, at least 10 wildfires have broken out and fortunately none of them proved serious and the emergency services and fire fighters responded very quickly. But the whole of the Balearics remains on red fire alert until October or beyond if the threat remains high.
And when it comes to beaches, the UK Foreign Office advised: “Take care when swimming in the sea. Always supervise children and keep small children within arms-reach. Some beaches, especially around Spanish islands, may have strong undercurrents.”
In the ocean, there are a few more concerns that both everyday beachgoers and parents may need to keep in mind when swimming to avoid serious injuries. This includes hidden rocks, shallow depths, strong undertows and waves coming into shore further and quicker than expected.
The warning continued: “Many beaches have a flag system. Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings (a red flag means you must not enter the water). Take extra care and get local knowledge if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.”