Andrew Ingram, Sea Rescue Prevention Services spokesman, said:
Sea Rescue’s national water safety team of instructors have again smashed records, this year teaching water safety to over 570 000 children in South Africa.
Our nineteen, full-time professional water safety instructors visit schools from Soweto to Khayelitsha and from Ceres to Port St Johns, teaching children about water safety, what to do in an emergency, who to call for help, how to safely help a friend in an emergency and how to do HandsOn CPR.
We focus on children from poor communities, where access to water safety information is limited and the need is great. These are the children who are most likely to drown. Our water safety lesson fits into a school period and teaches children to be safe in and around water in fun, interactive lessons.
Since the programme started in 2006 we have taught over 2,6 million children. The Sea Rescue water safety programme has received international recognition as the proud runner up for an Outstanding Team Contribution in the International Maritime Rescue Federation awards in 2017 as well as having Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene Of Monaco as the Patron of our water safety programme.
During the school holidays, we ask caregivers and parents to be especially vigil. Never leave a child alone in or near water. Not even for a few seconds. Drowning is silent. Please watch your children at all times when they are in or near water and remember even strong swimmers drown.
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