It’s always tempting to take the plunge when temperatures soar and you’re in the holiday spirit. And, while we wish you a wonderful time with family and friends this season, we also urge you to adopt a safety mindset when out and about near water
Here are some water-safety tips to bear in mind this summer:
Lifeguards are on duty at selected beaches between 10am and 6pm on weekends and during the week during summer school holidays. Listen to their advice and talk to them about beach safety. They are the experts. If lifeguards are not on duty, do not swim.
Teach children that if they swim between the lifeguards flags, the lifeguards will be watching them and can help if there is a problem. Lifeguards watch swimmers very carefully between the flags – just wave an arm if you need help.
If you are with a buddy while swimming, there is someone who can call for help if you can’t wave to the lifeguards or call for help yourself.
Adults who are supervising children in or near water must be able to swim. Children should not be able to get through or over barriers such as pool fences to water. Only use child-safe pool fences and child-safe pool covers or nets.
Educate yourself about rip currents, know what they look like and how to handle them if you find yourself caught in one. Our first rule is always swim on lifeguarded beaches and in between the lifeguard flags. Learn more about rip currents here http://www.nsri.org.za/2017/01/beware-of-rip-currents/.If you do get caught in a rip current, try to stay calm. The current will not pull you underwater, it’s going to pull you away from the shore. Try to float, and don’t attempt to swim against it back to shore as this will tire you out. Swim out of the rip, parallel to the shore, and then follow the breaking waves back to shore at an angle.
If you see someone in difficulty, alert a lifeguard at once. If possible, throw something that floats to the person. Then call the emergency number 112 from your cellphone. The NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre can be reached on 087 094 9774.
As much fun as inflatables are, they can be blown away from shore very easily. If a child or adult can’t swim and falls off in deep water, they will drown.
Watch children when they are in or near water. Do not be distracted by your cellphone or social media; you need to focus on them and nothing else.
Be prepared!
NSRI are appealing to everyone launching any kind of craft onto water, coastal and inland, to download and use the NSRI SafeTrx free cellphone app, have responsible family members monitor your trip using SafeTrx, and carry safety equipment.
Safety go-to list. Lessons learnt by a paddler>
More about NSRI’s inland bases – Station 22 (Vaal Dam)
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