WATER SAFETY / 16 DECEMBER 2021

NSRI WATER SAFETY

With holiday season now well underway NSRI are appealing to the public to be safe in and around coastal and inland waters.

We are appealing to coastal bathers to only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards and swim in between the lifeguards safe swimming zone flags posted by the lifeguards on the beach.

Lifeguards regularly move these flags when they detect rip currents forming and we are appealing to the public to obey the lifeguards instructions to only swim in between their flags.

https://www.nsri.org.za/water-safety/all-about-rip-currents

Families visiting the beach should approach the lifeguards if they are separated from family members or if they need assistance.

NSRI are appealing to fishermen, coastline anglers and hikers, to take heed of Spring tides. This months full moon Spring tide peaks on Sunday, 19 December, and the new moon Spring Tide peaks on 2 January. We are appealing to the public to be aware of the higher than normal high tides and lower than normal low tides preceding and following after the Spring Tides peak day and be cautious around the coastline.

Boaters, paddlers and sail boarders are urged to wear properly fitting and fastened life-jackets while your craft is underway.

We are appealing to boaters to make sure that their craft are in working order and their motors are serviced before launching.

Boaters, paddlers and sailors are urged to download and use the free NSRI RSA SafeTrx cellphone app and have safety equipment and an emergency plan in place.

https://www.nsri.org.za/water-safety/safetrx/

We are appealing to parents to make sure that there is a designated responsible person watching over children in and around coastal and inland waters and at swimming pools.

NSRI has developed a safety monitor ID tag to be worn by the responsible person that is overseeing children while they are swimming and to regularly change that responsible monitoring person, who is watching over the children, every half an hour to ensure that that designated person is not distracted by cellphone calls or by conversation during their dedicated monitoring period.

For information on the Safety Monitor ID tag and NSRI water safety tips go to our web page:

To download the tag, click here: https://www.nsri.org.za/wp-con...

Do not drink alcohol and then go swimming, boating, paddling or sailboarding.

If you are caught in a rip current don't panic, stay afloat using the air in your lungs for natural buoyancy and tread water to keep your head above water. Go with the rip current, do not try to swim against the current. Call out for help. At your first opportunity swim across the beachfront until you are free from the rip current and then use the incoming waves to get to the beach.

NSRI are on high alert every day of the year and during the festive season our volunteers increase physical time spent at our NSRI rescue stations around the coast and on inland waters to ensure a swift response to emergencies.

All water emergency response services, NSRI, lifeguards, ambulance, fire and rescue services, the SA Police Services and local Law Enforcement agencies are dedicated to ensuring the public are safe around water during the festive season.

To report a water emergency call 112 from your cellphone or call 0870949774.

Be safe around water this holiday season.