- Over 680 lifeguards have been deployed across Cape Town’s beaches and swimming pools as part of a safety campaign to prevent drownings during the festive season.
- Lifesaving South Africa and the NSRI emphasize the importance of constant supervision of children near water, alongside following key safety tips such as swimming at lifeguarded beaches and knowing emergency numbers.
- With drowning among the leading causes of death for children globally, families are urged to stay vigilant and prioritize water safety.
Over the past decade, drowning has claimed more than three million lives worldwide, making it one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. As the festive season approaches – a time when many flock to beaches, pools, and rivers – safety becomes even more critical.
TygerBurger reported of countless incidents of drownings and near-drownings on beaches this year, most where no lifeguards were on duty. With increased water-related activities during the festive season, the public is urged to prioritise vigilance and precautionary measures to ensure celebrations do not turn into tragedies.
Lifesaving South Africa (SA) says in the second week of December South Africa experienced a further nine drownings nationally. A worrying trend has seen four children drown in two separate incidents inland.
“We also call for very close supervision of little children anywhere near water. As the summer days heat up and schools close for the year, the need to supervise young children by keeping them within an arm’s length is paramount,” a statement reads.
Lifeguards deployed
The City of Cape Town has deployed more than 680 lifeguards to beaches and swimming pools ahead of the summer tourism boom. This forms part of a record festive safety deployment of more than 5 000 personnel across the metro.
As part of its drowning prevention campaign, the City is deploying 340 beach lifeguards and 343 swimming pool lifeguards.
Lifeguards will be on duty at 29 different beaches, tidal pools, stretches of coast, and all public swimming pools between 10:00 and 18:00 daily. Partners include Lifesaving Cape Town, with 14 clubs along the coast, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), who are on standby to make emergency deployments of rescue swimmers and vessels operating from eight base stations across the city.
“Drowning presents a significant threat to the lives of children and young people, ranking as the third leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 14 years, and the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4 years globally,” Lifesaving SA says.
Over 90% of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting that vulnerable communities are most at risk. “Drowning has clear linkages to progress in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, yet recognition and action for its prevention is far from commensurate with its public health impact.”
Tips
With the official start of the school holidays, the NSRI shares its top 10 safety tips:
- Alcohol and swimming or boating don’t go together.
- Drowning is silent. Parents and caregivers should watch their children in or near water. If they are having difficulty, there will be no splashing or call for help.
- Dangerous currents and lifeguarded beaches: Going into the water or swimming between lifeguard flags is safest. Most people need help to identify dangerous currents or rip currents at beaches. Lifeguards can keep you safe between their flags – so rather go into the water there.
- Know your emergency numbers – 112 is the general emergency number in South Africa and a free call. If you dial 112, you can ask to be put through to the police, ambulance, fire and rescue or NSRI/Sea Rescue.
- Wear a lifejacket. NSRI volunteers always wear lifejackets on the water in their rescue boats, as should you. If the NSRI crew can work on their boats and conduct rescue missions wearing lifejackets, you can also get used to wearing them.
- The RSA SafeTRX App monitors a small craft journey and alerts emergency contacts nominated by the user (family and friends) should they fail to return to shore on time. This free cellphone application enables the user to plot their intended course, store essential emergency numbers that NSRI can use if they fail to return from their trip, give the NSRI their location at all times during their trip, provide the user with the ability to call an emergency by the push of a button and giving the NSRI your exact position throughout their rescue response if you press the emergency button. It only works where there is a cellphone signal.
- Do not attempt to cross a fast-flowing river on foot or in a car. If you need to cross a river in a vehicle that is not flowing fast, walk through using a stick for support and check the depth before driving into the water.
- NSRI Survival Swimming teaches you to hold your breath, open your eyes in the water (to orient yourself so you know which way to swim), float, and move a short distance through the water.
- Learn bystander CPR. If a person is not breathing, call for help.
- When using a boat with an engine, always use a kill switch. A kill switch is a special cord connecting a switch on the throttles to the person driving the boat. If that person falls and loses control of a boat, the kill switch is pulled, and the engine stops.
Visit https://www.nsri.org.za for more information.
