The local government of El Campello is taking a major step towards universal accessibility by introducing specially adapted safety flags on its beaches. This new visual system uses distinct geometric symbols alongside standard colours to ensure that individuals with colour blindness can easily identify sea conditions and safety warnings.
Designed to eliminate information barriers, the system accurately replicates the traditional three-tier coastal warning levels. The green flag, which indicates that swimming conditions are completely safe and favourable, now features a diagonal line paired with a triangle in the lower section. The yellow flag, denoting that caution is required due to hazards such as strong waves, currents, jellyfish or temporary pollution, is distinguished by a thick diagonal line. The red flag, signifying a total ban on swimming due to highly adverse conditions, is represented solely by a solid triangle. To provide further reassurance and allow for rapid identification, each new flag also has the specific name of its colour visibly printed across it.
Councillor Rafa Galvañ emphasised that the progressive deployment forms a vital part of the local authority’s long-term commitment to inclusivity across all public spaces. He noted that an estimated 350 million people worldwide live with some form of colour blindness. Because standard visual safety indicators rely so heavily on colour perception, navigating public spaces can become significantly more difficult without proper adaptations.
The rollout of these inclusive flags has already commenced across the sandy shorelines of El Campello. They will initially fly alongside the traditional flags as part of a phased transition. The municipality intends to permanently replace the older models with the adapted designs over time as the current flags naturally experience wear and tear from sun and wind exposure.
