THE National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is gearing up for the influx of holiday traffic to mainly coastal areas.
Despite having close to 1 500 NSRI volunteers stationed at 43 coastal and inland NSRI rescue stations 24 hours a day, the rescue organisation appeals to the public to be water safe and educate themselves about the dangers ahead of the festive season.
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Beaches should have a NSRI pink rescue buoy available that people can use to aid someone in distress until a lifeguard or NSRI member intervenes.
Bathers are reminded to swim only at beaches monitored by lifeguards, and to remember the dates on which the beaches are closed.
Water safety tips to bear in mind this summer:
Swim at beaches where and when lifeguards are on duty
Lifeguards are on duty at selected beaches between 10am and 6pm on weekends and during the week during summer school holidays. Listen to their advice and talk to them about safety on the beach that you are visiting. They are the experts on that beach. If lifeguards are not on duty, do not swim.
Swim between the lifeguard flags
Teach children that if they swim between the lifeguards flags, the lifeguards will be watching them and can help if there is a problem. Lifeguards watch swimmers very carefully between the flags – just wave an arm if you need help.
Don’t drink alcohol and then swim
Don’t swim alone. Always swim with a buddy
If you are with a buddy there is someone who can call for help if you need it.
Adult supervision and barriers to water are vital
Adults supervising children in or near water must be able to swim. This is vital if it is at a water body that does not have lifeguards on duty. It is extremely dangerous to get into the water to rescue someone, so rather throw something that floats to the person in difficulty and call for help. Children should not be able to get through or over barriers such as pool fences to water. Only use child safe pool fences, pool covers or nets.
Know how to survive rip currents
If you swim between the lifeguard flags they will make sure that you are safe and well away from rip currents. If for some reason this is not possible, do not swim. Educate yourself about rip currents. There is plenty of information on https://www.nsri.org.za/2017/01/beware-of-rip-currents/, including videos of what rip currents look like.
Don’t attempt a rescue yourself
Call a lifeguard or the NSRI by dialling 112 and call the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre 087 0949774 from your cell phone for help. If you see someone in difficulty, call a lifeguard at once or dial the nearest Sea Rescue station from your cell phone. You should put this number into your phone before you go to the beach – get the emergency numbers for NSRI here – https://www.nsri.org.za/emergency-numbers/ – or you can Google for the closest NSRI station emergency number. After calling for help try and throw something that floats to the person in difficulty. A ball, a foam surfboard and so on.
Watch children using floating objects, toys or tire tubes at the beach or on dams very carefully
Never use these if the wind may blow them away from the shallow water.
You can very quickly get blown away from the shore and as much fun as tubes and styrofoam are, it is easy to fall off them. If a child can’t swim and falls off in deep water they will drown.
Drowning is silent
Watch children when they are in or near water. Do not be distracted by your cellphone or social media while you are looking after children in or near water. You need to focus on them and nothing else.
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