The operation, active every weekend and public holiday with high attendance until September 10th, complements the service provided by Cruz Roja from Monday to Friday, under an agreement with the Community of Madrid Security and Emergency Agency (ASEM 112).
The San Juan reservoir, located in the southwest of the region and shared by San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa, is popularly known as “Madrid's beach” for being the only authorized inland bathing area with a blue flag in the community. Its high summer attendance has necessitated the reinforcement of prevention and rescue efforts due to an increase in water incidents.
The SUMMA 112 team comprises nine professionals: seven emergency medical technicians trained in aquatic lifesaving, one emergency nurse, and a coordinator. They operate from the base established at Virgen de la Nueva beach, in San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
The operation includes two boats (a rigid one for patrols and rescues and a pneumatic one for rapid intervention), along with rescue boards and land support vehicles. Advanced resources such as medicalized helicopters and mobile units are also available.
Beyond direct intervention, the operation conducts significant preventive work. Informative patrols alert bathers to common risks in this natural environment, such as jumping from rocks, currents in certain areas, or swimming across different parts of the reservoir.
During the previous season, teams carried out over a thousand interventions, including rescues, medical assistance, monitoring of at-risk individuals, and removal of dangerous objects from the water. Surveillance was also enhanced on the use of floats and inflatable devices, which can create a false sense of security.
SUMMA 112 emphasizes the importance of bathing only in authorized zones, avoiding jumps in unknown or rocky areas, and supervising minors at all times. In case of emergency, they recommend immediately calling 112 and refraining from interventions without aquatic rescue training.
Through this initiative, the Community of Madrid aims to reduce risks in one of the summer's most crowded natural spaces and enhance the safety of the thousands of visitors who flock to the San Juan reservoir each year.
