Sea Rescue celebrates 80th life saved by pink rescue buoys

Every time a pink rescue buoy (PRB) is stolen from public swimming areas, it puts lives at risk.

While the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Pink Rescue Buoy programme recently celebrated its 80th life saved using the public rescue tool, the theft of the buoys in some parts of KZN has raised concern.

The bright pink buoys are installed around the country’s dams, rivers and beaches and can be thrown to someone in trouble in the water to provide emergency floatation until help arrives.

The poles they are attached to also indicate who to call in an emergency and provide a unique ID number, helping rescuers respond to the correct location.

Once PRBs are placed in an area they become the property of the community, who must take responsibility to ensure availability at all times.

NSRI’s drowning Pprevention manager, Andrew Ingram, said the buoys act as a reminder to take care if no lifeguards are on duty.

‘They are easy to remove from the pole and quickly thrown to a person in trouble – even by children.

‘The pink colour was specifically chosen so they can easily be seen in the water.

‘By stealing a rescue buoy, a vital public rescue device, one could cost someone their life,’ Ingram said.
Partnership

The World Health Organisation considers drowning to be the third leading cause of unintentional injury leading to death.

Furthermore, 90% of unintentional drowning deaths occur in low- to middle-income countries such as South Africa.

While 80% of Americans can swim, only 15% of South Africans can.

To help more people learn more about water safety, South32 began a partnership with the NSRI in 2019 by sponsoring two full-time water safety instructors to teach children how to be safe around water.

They have also provided more than 40 pink buoys in strategic locations in KZN.

Vice president of operations at Hillside Aluminium/South32, Calvin Mkhabela, emphasised that the success of the pink rescue buoy project depends on the community at large.

‘Without communities supporting the project and teaching children that the buoys should not be taken off their poles except in an emergency, we will not be able to save lives.

‘We encourage community leaders to educate people about the value of the emergency devices.

‘The safety of communities is important to us. This initiative will go a long way in protecting beachgoers or those who live around water, especially children, who may find themselves in an emergency,’ Mkhabela said.