The City’s Learn How to Swim campaign announced
JOBURG – Learn how to swim campaign to be launched by Member of Mayoral Council (MMC) of public safety, Michael Sun and MMC of Community Development, Nonhlanhla Sifumba. Read more here.
Member of the Mayoral Council (MMC) of Public Safety, Michael Sun and MMC of Community Development, Nonhlanhla Sifumba have announced the launch of the City’s Learn How to Swim campaign on 10 October.
According to Robert Mulaudzi, spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services, statistics indicate that a large number of drowning incidents happen in our own homes and children under the age of five become victims. “It is imperative that parents supervise their children at all the times while swimming; even if they have received professional lessons,” said Mulaudzi.
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) has partnered with community development, Swimming South Africa and primary schools in and around the City of Johannesburg to roll out the campaign. The collaboration is based upon a strategic goal to increase the accessibility to public swimming pools for the community, to ensure that children are empowered with swimming skills and what measures to take during flooding incidents. These facilities are an embodiment of the City’s commitment to building safe communities and a safer city.
EMS recorded and responded to 53 drowning and near-drowning incidents between September 2016 and February 2017, compared to the 65 recorded from September 2015 to February 2016. Even though EMS has seen a reduction in terms of the number of drowning and water-related incidents, the city is still striving to achieve an incident-free summer season.
Pool safety tips following drowning of seven-year-old in Bloubosrand
“Through our public education section, the City will be intensifying its efforts with the emphasis on general water safety. This programme will target all the residents covering all seven regions of the city, including our most vulnerable communities in various informal settlements, especially schoolgoing [children] in lower grades. As part of the Learn How to Swim programme, mobile swimming pools will be used to demonstrate in schools.”
EMS details: 10177/112; 011 375 5911.
