HUNGRY LION SUPPORTS SAFE SWIMMING

The Quick Service Restaurant chain, Hungry Lion, is committed to protecting and saving lives in their local communities this festive season

In support of a Sea Rescue drowning prevention initiative Hungry Lion donated 2 000 pool noodles to NSRI. The rescue noodles will be used for various projects across the country, including basic flotation assistance aids for needy children’s swimming lessons, as well as a pilot project to provide emergency flotation assistance in the Bitou and Eden municipalities.

“Everyone knows what a pool noodle is, and it’s use as an aid to flotation is intuitive,” said Sea Rescue CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson. “We have distributed 200 rescue noodles to the Eden Disaster Risk Management which will oversee their distribution to achieve our drowning prevention aims. A further 200 noodles were distributed to swimming pools in disadvantaged areas of Cape Town.” In a third pilot project some of the rescue noodles will be placed in strategic places on the Eden and Bitou coastline.

“We hope that firstly, they will remind people of the danger of rip currents on this coast and secondly, that in an emergency they can be thrown to people in difficulty. We repeatedly warn people not to get into the water to assist someone in difficulty, but to rather throw something that floats to them. This basic floatation assistance may save a life,” said Dr Robertson.

Hungry Lion’s Brand Manager, Tashalene Reid said: “Hungry Lion’s commitment towards this initiative forms part of our company’s promise to reach out to the local communities we serve. Contributing towards change within our communities is one of Hungry Lion’s main Corporate Social Responsibility aims. We believe that Sea Rescue’s drowning prevention initiatives brings hope to this mission of ours.” The remaining rescue noodles will be distributed to swimming schools within disadvantaged communities across South Africa.