Be responsible around water this holiday

WITH another holiday break fast approaching and people flocking to dams, rivers, beaches and swimming pools for fun, paramedics warn of the prevalence of drownings, especially those of children.

Chris Botha, media liaison officer at Netcare 911, recommends children do not swim without supervision and that parents must always know where their children are as they can disappear in the blink of an eye.

Safety tips to prevent drowning:

• Swim only where there are lifeguards.
• Don’t let your children swim without adult supervision.
• Don’t dive into the shallow end of a swimming pool or any water, sea or river if you cannot see what is below the surface.
• Make sure your swimming pool is covered with a pool net or enclosed with a SABS approved fence, to prevent children accidentally falling into the water unnoticed.

What to do in a drowning situation:

• Survey the scene and carry out a water rescue only if you can do it safely without placing your own life at risk.
• If the victim is not breathing, remove them from the pool.
• If no spinal injury is suspected, place the victim on his or her side to allow fluids to drain from the airway.
• For an unconscious and breathing adult or child, check breathing for five to ten seconds by tilting the head back and looking and feeling for breathing. If the victim is breathing then turn them onto their side into a recovery position. Call the ambulance as soon as possible.
• If the victim is not breathing, start CPR.

Also Read:

Tips to prevent drowning

Paraplegic girl (8) drowns in bathtub

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