NSRI Kommetjie pilots a Junior Academy course:

The Kommetjie Sea Rescue volunteers have launched a Junior Academy pilot project that will run for this week. The idea is to create an opportunity for teenagers to be a part of the Sea Rescue Family, and encourage young people, between the ages of 13 and 16, to become involved in volunteering in their community.

The classroom session.

The first group of youngsters from the Kommetjie area were welcomed yesterday, and went straight into learning ... who to call and how to report an emergency. They were also given a emergency telephone numbers to save in their cell phones. They then jogged to the local school pool, where they completed some basic fitness exercises.

They learned how to put a patient onto a spine board on land (taught by Mel Gouws: EMT medical instructor) and then how to use a spine board in the water.

Lunch break was back at Station 26, Kommetjie, and then they had some down time watching the WaterWise videos. Finally it was off to the inner Kom for a swim in the sea.

By getting youth involved early we incorporate them into the Sea Rescue community and philosophy at a young age. This ensures long-term sustainability of volunteers, donors, supporters and has on impact of truly helping to transform the new South Africa.'It has been a fantastic experience for the teenagers as well as our crew,' said Kommetjie Station Commander Ian Klopper.'All credit must go to Lara Caine for her coordination of the course and hard work and to her assistants. We will have some very good new volunteers when they turn 16.'

Some training in the sea.