PHOTOS / 7 DECEMBER 2016

Emergency services join hands to reduce the number of drownings this season

Sea Rescue and Lifesaving SA are working together with all rescue services in an effort to reduce the number of drownings in South Africa this summer season. The 7 top safety tips for the Summer holidays that should always be top of mind are:

Only swim at beaches where and when lifeguards are on duty. If lifeguards are not on duty do not swim.
Swim only between the lifeguards red and yellow flags.
Don’t drink alcohol and then swim
Never swim alone
Competent adult supervision for children and barriers (such as swimming pool fences)which prevent access to water are vital
Learn about rip currents
Don’t attempt a rescue, call a lifeguard or dial 112 from any cell phone

Teach your children about rip currents:

Rip currents are the greatest cause of drowning accidents along our coast.
A rip current looks like a calm patch of water but is actually a river of water flowing fast out to sea against the incoming waves.
If you are caught in a rip-current you’ll be swept out to sea faster than you’re able to swim towards the shore.
Don’t panic or try to swim against the current.
As tough as this sounds, let the current take you out to sea.
Raise one arm in the air and wave and scream to alert people on the shore that you’re in trouble.
At the first chance you get ... swim parallel to the beach until you’re free of the rip, then use the incoming waves to aid your progress to get back to shore

The biggest danger that people face on the beaches this summer are Rip currents. rip