The Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) wants residents to be safe this festive season when in and around water.
DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi gives water safety tips to take into consideration:
• Never leave children alone near open water sources as children may drown.
• Rain may fill trenches, culverts and rivers and these are hazards prone to drowning.
• It is a norm for children to splash around in the water during bath time. Playing in water is great fun for children but unfortunately, drowning is imminent because of a few drops of water which might be breathed down the airway (nose and lungs) preventing and blocking air passages.
• At home, never leave buckets and baths full of water unattended because toddlers might fall in and drown.
• Wading pools or splash pools should always be emptied when playtime is over.
• Children should be taught how to swim, but should never be left alone in the pool. Swimming pools should be covered with a net and be fenced with the gate locked. Backyard swimming pools must be fenced around to keep children out and the gate kept locked always.
• Wear properly fitted life jackets or inflatable swimming devices while in the water with adult supervision where necessary.
• Never cross flooded bridges and rivers if water is above ankle level. Common practice is that many people use water pipe-lines across river streams as bridges or routes to destinations, which is dangerous. Use appropriate alternative routes instead.
Also read: NSRI providing water safety support to Gauteng
Ntladi also said to be prepared for an emergency.
• Learn basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Heimlich manoeuvre (abdominal thrusts) procedures.
• Know your local life-threatening emergency numbers wherever you are. Ensure that numbers are readily and clearly displayed for everyone to know and to use.
• Know your national emergency number.
• Try to be calm and give the exact address and what happened to the call centre operators to save time.
• Keep a record of the reference number given from the call centre.
• Assemble a first aid kit with emergency instructions.
• Teach your child how to activate emergency services as well.
“DEMS is on high alert throughout the entire festive season to be able to attend to any emergency or life-threatening events that might erupt,” said Ntladi.
Emergency numbers are 011 458 0911, cellphone 112, or national emergency number 10177.
