Firefighters brave the cold in order to save lives
Seventy firefighters from various fire stations across the city of Ekurhuleni volunteered to participate in this life-saving programme in preparation of the changing weather patterns whereby flooding and drowning becomes a year-long phenomenon.
The Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) firefighters recently braved cold swimming pool water to sharpen their surface water rescue skills.
According to William Ntladi, district manager of Emergency Services, they tackled the water from 7am to 9am.
“The exercise objective is to increase their skills in surface water rescue, swift water rescue and ultimately, to be deep sea water divers. Therefore improving skills to enhance quality lifesaving techniques in the water,” said Ntladi.
“The team is under the guidance of their fire and swimming instructor Gerald Moswathupa, with the lessons held at the Boksburg indoor swimming pool.
“The team is divided into two main groups of thirty-five each. The teams attend four days in a week starting from Tuesday until Friday. Tuesdays and Thursdays are days set aside for the first group while the second group attends on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
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