Water safety in Zululand
Avoid drowning incidents over the festive season with these safety tips.
AS usual the heat is on big time as typical Zululander summer conditions are driving the hordes of locals and visiting holidaymakers to the the beaches, estuaries and swimming pools to cool down.
But with drowning claiming many lives every festive season.
Drowning is the seventh leading cause of accidental death for all ages, so keeping an eye on your loved ones, especially the little toddlers, during this busy time of the year can mean the difference between life and death.
Swimming pool
• Surround your pool with a fence and locked gate that cannot be climbed over or slipped through or under.
• Purchase a pool cover.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in case of emergencies.
• Don’t rely on swimming lessons to keep your child safe; you cannot ‘drown-proof’ a child.
• Never allow anyone of any age to swim alone; even expert swimmers can develop cramps, get dizzy or hit their heads.
• Don’t rely on plastic arm floats or float toys to support your child; they may slip off or deflate.
• Teach your children and their friends proper water safety rules, including no running or pushing near a pool deck or on a diving board, no dunking other swimmers, and no yelling ‘help’ unless you are actually in trouble.
• Never allow a child to remain in or near the bathtub, swimming pool, or any other body of water by themselves. Most toddler drownings occur when the caregiver is distracted.
• Be sure to alert your babysitter to potential pool hazards.
At the beach
• Swim parallel to and not too far away from the shoreline.
• If you get trapped in a rip current, swim diagonally to the current. If you are a weak swimmer or become exhausted, float on the current and signal for help.
• Use caution with rafts and other flotation devices, since sleeping sunbathers can easily drift far offshore.
• Be careful of sudden drop-offs, strong currents and undertows when swimming in oceans, rivers, or lakes.
• Remind children to go into water feet first. Each year, diving into shallow water takes its toll in drownings and spinal cord injuries.
• Never swim during electrical storms.
• Never ride in a boat unless there is a life jacket for every passenger, including children.
• Wear a life jacket when you water ski or jet ski, even if you are experienced.
