Rescue 27 Gauteng, part of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), held an open day to educate the public about water safety on October 1 at CR Swart Dam in Rynfield.
The organisation’s Eddie Louw said the aim of the event was to disseminate information about the steps that should be taken in cases of a drowning or floods.
He explained that with the warm summer weather, people often want to cool down in swimming pools or lakes and therefore should be acquainted with this information.
He said with vast array of rivers and dams in South Africa, especially on the inland, they provide an essential water rescue to users.
“Whenever there’s a need for any water emergencies, we get called out. We train every Tuesday here at out our base and do water demonstrations on weekends.
“We are now starting to teach people about water and water safety, especially young people and those in the rural areas. We are becoming proactive and want to save and preserve lives,” he said.
Louw advised that in a case of a drowning, jumping into the water should be the last resort.
“If somebody falls into the water, instead of going in and getting yourself in danger, the first thing you should do is to reach out with your hand. If it doesn’t work, grab a rope or jacket that they can grab and then pull back.
“The next step is jumping in swimming or going in with kayak if it’s too deep to swim. But swimming should be the last step.”
He stated that they were stationed at Germiston Lake before moving to CR Swart Dam in 2019.
Louw revealed his most memorable mission was when they were called out for a rescue in Diepsloot in February 2016 following a flash flood in the area.
“We were called by the SAPS divers and disaster management to rescue little Angel Sibanda who was swept away by a flash flood. We unfortunately lost her,” he said.
With a lot of dams and lakes in Benoni, he urged residents, especially those who love open water swimming, to avoid taking a plunge by themselves. He said whether it’s in a swimming pool or lake, there should always be adult supervision.
“Don’t put your life in danger. Don’t go in because you might get stuck in the mud as well. Ask for help, phone EMS on 112 or 10177 rather than going in there yourself.”
For more information about the NSRI, you can go to www.nsri.org.za.
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