As beaches and public pools reopen with the change in lockdown restrictions, there has been a spate of drownings in South Africa. This has prompted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to warn people about how easily a child can drown while playing in or around water.
In its statement, the NRSI cites Statistics South Africa’s listing of fatal drowning as the fifth leading cause of unintentional death in the country.
Hundreds of children die
“An estimated 600 children die by drowning in each year,” said Jessica Shelver, duty spokesperson at NRSI. “Many of these fatal drownings could be prevented if there was a responsible, able bodied person watching the children when they are in or near water, and if they were able to recognise the signs of drowning,” said Shelver.
“When people are drowning, all of their energy is going into trying to breathe and staying above water,” said Andrew Ingram, Head of Drowning Prevention for the National Sea Rescue Institute. “They are not yelling for help or waving their hands around. Drowning is often quick, and very silent.”
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“Parents and care-givers are urged to be vigilant when their children are near water,” said Shelver adding that most children under five years of age who drown do so at or near their home.
“Special attention should be paid to washing basins, baths, dams, rivers and swimming pools. Small children should not be able to get close to these dangers alone without responsible adult supervision.
“Older children should also be reminded of the dangers that they face near water,” she said. Ingram said it isn’t enough just to be keeping an eye on a child who is in water.
“The priority is to have somebody dedicated to physically watch those who are swimming, not distracted by their phone or conversations with others. Taking your eyes off children, even for a few seconds, could prove fatal,” he said.
Swimming monitor
In order to help keep South African’s safe in the water, the NSRI has suggested the person who is watching the water be given an ID tag, to avoid a situation where two people think the other one is watching, while no one is actually doing so.
“We encourage people to print it out, add a lanyard or tie it on a loop of string for the designated swimming monitor to wear it around their neck. The person who is on duty should do nothing other than watch the children while they are in the water,” said Ingram.
Ingram also recommended the duty be changed regularly to ensure vigilance. “The tag should be passed to another responsible adult after half an hour to make sure that there is no lapse of concentration from the person who is on duty.
The tag, which is shared at the end of this story, also has emergency number printed on the front and infographic directions on how to do bystander CPR, on the back. It is important that those supervising the children know who to call for help and how to do bystander CPR.
“Drowning can happen in seconds. A more widespread understanding of what signs of swimming distress and drowning behaviour actually look like would help to save lives,” said Ingram.
“Prevention is key when it comes to water safety. Save lives by donating to the NSRI’s survival swimming programme.”
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Download the printable PDF of the Swim Monitor Tag here.
(https://highwaymail.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2021/02/On-Duty-Swimming-Monitor-Badge.pdf)
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
