National Sea Rescue Institute seeks volunteers to assist by monitoring Beach Safety Cameras
Volunteers can assist by monitoring a Beach Safety Camera from the safety of their living room and calling the NSRI’s attention to any dangers.
BEACHES attract a lot of people, especially during the summer season and holiday seasons. However, because of the size of many beaches, and the risks associated with these beaches, including riptides, it is important to have layers of safety in addition to lifeguards.
This is according to Andrew Ingram, Drowning Prevention Manager at the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) who states that part of their mandate as the Drowning Prevention Department at the NSRI is to look at innovative ways we could save the lives of South African water users.
“Earlier this year, one of the beach cameras at Strand Beach helped to save the life of a young boy, Matthew (10), who was spotted by our Drowning Prevention camera operator. He was pulled away from the beach by a riptide and was struggling to stay afloat. Our camera operator spotted him, and we immediately alerted the local lifeguards to the emergency,” Ingram says.
ALSO READ: International musicians set to perform at Friends of Music recital
The family of the young boy will forever be grateful to the eyes behind the camera monitor who was able to spot the child in trouble. Lezhae Snyders, the camera operator at the NSRI’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), describes the day as any ordinary day in the EOC. “It all changed while I was doing my regular monitoring and I saw that someone was in trouble, so I zoomed in to confirm. I quickly alerted the lifeguards who had not yet started their day shift,” explains Snyders.
To date, the NSRI beach cameras are strategically placed at beaches that have dangerous riptides. “The aim is to expand this project into other areas, and we are aiming to install more cameras in the Western Cape and KZN by end of this year,” adds Andrew.
ALSO READ: Good news about fuel prices going into the Easter weekend
In some areas, the NSRI needs volunteers to man these cameras, especially since rescue volunteers have a lot on their plates. Having volunteers who can assist by monitoring a Beach Safety Camera from the safety of their living room and call attention to any dangers, enables the NSRI to save more lives. “We will provide training to these volunteers on how to operate the cameras and our Emergency Operations Centre is always ready to jump in and help should a volunteer need some guidance,” concludes Ingram.
The National Sea Rescue Institute in Durban is located on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Point.
To become a beach camera volunteer, email andrewi@searescue.org.za.
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
