PATTAYA, THAILAND – More than 2,000 people took part in a large-scale beachfront emergency drill in Pattaya, practicing CPR and other lifesaving skills to strengthen the resort city’s safety strategy.
Mass CPR drill on Pattaya beach
The exercise took place in the Blue Zone activity area on Pattaya Beach and, according to the city administration, involved over 2,000 beach vendors, hotel staff, fishers, traditional massage therapists and residents. The event was opened by Pongsithisit Pijanant, deputy governor of Chonburi province, while Pattaya’s mayor Poramese Ngampichet welcomed participants alongside representatives of several medical institutions.
Wide alliance of rescue and hospital partners
Guests included Dr. Pichet Nongchang, secretary-general of the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEMS), and Dr. Piyaporn Tipyarat, director of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. Jomtien Hospital was also represented, as well as Prasit Thongthitjaroen, chair of the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation Pattaya.
Pattaya was described as one of the world’s heavily frequented beach tourism destinations, attracting millions of domestic and international visitors year-round. Against this backdrop, the city said it was putting a stronger focus on the emergency response skills of the local population and employees in the tourism sector.
Hands-on ‘CPR on The Beach 2025’ program
The full-day “CPR on The Beach 2025” program was jointly organized by Pattaya City, NIEMS, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Jomtien Hospital and the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation. Central elements were practical exercises in Basic Life Support (BLS), correct emergency notification, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on adult, child and infant manikins, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Medical teams, nursing staff and volunteer rescuers from the participating organizations supervised attendees in small groups. Original emergency equipment and training manikins were used so that techniques could be applied safely in real-life critical situations.
Push to brand Pattaya as a ‘Safe Tourism City’
Mayor Poramese Ngampichet underlined the city’s aim of linking safety more closely with tourism.
“Pattaya is not only a fun travel destination, it must also be a safe one,”
said Ngampichet, mayor of Pattaya.
He stressed the importance of the first minutes during cardiac arrest or other emergencies.
“If tourists and residents know that people around them can help in the critical first minutes, it creates great confidence,”
said Ngampichet, mayor of Pattaya.
“Today we have trained over 2,000 frontline tourism workers and citizens – together we are turning Pattaya into a city that is safe and reassuring around the clock.”
said Ngampichet, mayor of Pattaya.
Model project for safety cooperation
The “CPR on The Beach” initiative was described as being in a newer annual edition and regarded as a flagship project for cooperation between the city administration, hospitals and rescue organizations. According to officials, the aim was to further raise safety standards in the seaside resort.
After the mass training, the city administration saw itself one step closer to its goal of establishing Pattaya as a “Safe Tourism City.” Those responsible said another important step had been taken toward a beach destination where visitors can relax, knowing that help is quickly available in an emergency.
Questions over limits of a single mega-drill
The report also raised questions about the wider implications of such initiatives, noting that growing tourist numbers also increase risks. It asked whether a single mass training could really close the life-saving gap that remains in many coastal cities, who bears responsibility when seconds decide between life and death, and how sustainable an annual large-scale exercise can be when everyday life is far more chaotic than any simulation.
Readers were invited to reflect on whether Pattaya was on the right track with its mass drill or whether much more was needed beyond a mega-event on the beach.