Police concerned about high number of drownings
The South African Police Service’s Water Wing appeals to parents, guardians and all people using dams, rivers, lakes, beaches and swimming pools for recreational purposes, to be safety conscious.
This warning comes after a number of people have drowned in different parts of the country, although educational campaigns to promote safety at recreational facilities continued.
Flash floods are ever-present risks during the rainy season and many people have no idea how fast a mass of water can move over a large area around rivers.
Children and adults have been swept away in flash floods annually and their bodies are often recovered many kilometres away.
The festive season is a time to be joyful, but drowning is an ever-present risk when people go on outings to rivers, beaches, dams and swimming pools.
Although members of the Water Wing have been deployed to various recreational facilities to curb drowning, not all areas can be monitored due to the concentration of people.
In summer many children want to “cool down” and play in unknown water areas and even in old, unused quarry holes filled with water.
The SAPS appeals to the public, parents and guardians to be extremely cautious around water over the holiday season.
Small children must always be in sight as it takes only a few seconds for a child to slip into the water and drown.
Many incidents of drowning are linked to the misuse of alcohol and recklessness.
Some of the incidents involve drowning, children going missing, children becoming the victims of crime such as rape and, sadly, even children committing suicide.
The police and the community cannot afford to let their precious young lives be wasted.
