World Drowning Prevention Day: How the NSRI's programmes are making a difference

World Drowning Prevention Day, observed annually on 25 July, was initiated by the United Nations General Assembly in April 2021. This day serves as a global call to action to raise awareness about drowning, one of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 236,000 people lose their lives to drowning each year. The observance encourages governments, organisations, and individuals to implement effective drowning prevention measures, including public education campaigns, swimming lessons, and water safety promotion.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has been at the forefront of drowning prevention for years. Since its inception, the NSRI has developed a range of impactful programmes aimed at enhancing water safety and saving lives. These initiatives are crucial in a country with extensive coastlines and numerous water bodies, where drowning incidents are a significant concern.

Water safety education campaign

One of the NSRI's cornerstone initiatives is the Water Safety Education campaign, which, over the last 18 years, has successfully educated a staggering 4,703,094 individuals in water safety, with a record-breaking number of 905,185 people trained in 2023 alone. This programme provides essential knowledge on how to stay safe near water, how to assist someone in trouble without putting oneself at risk, and how to perform bystander CPR. By targeting young audiences, the NSRI instils a culture of water safety from an early age, equipping future generations with the skills and awareness needed to prevent drownings.

Pink Rescue Buoy project

Another significant initiative is the Pink Rescue Buoy project, launched in 2017. The NSRI has placed over 1800 bright Pink Rescue Buoys in high-risk drowning areas across South Africa. These buoys provide immediate assistance to swimmers in distress, significantly increasing their chances of survival. To date, the Pink Rescue Buoy project has directly contributed to saving 184 lives. Each buoy costs approximately R1 800, and the NSRI relies on community support and donations to sustain this life-saving initiative.

Survival Swimming Programme

The NSRI's Survival Swimming Programme, initiated in 2019, addresses the high incidence of drowning, particularly among children in disadvantaged communities. This programme focuses on teaching essential water survival skills, including breath control, orientation, floating, and propulsion. The sessions are free, last for 20 minutes, and are conducted by qualified instructors who adhere to international guidelines and undergo annual assessments.

To ensure accessibility, the NSRI has established several Survival Swimming Centres across the country. These are innovative mobile units made from converted shipping containers equipped with heated indoor pools. These centres are strategically placed in areas with limited access to safe swimming facilities, such as Riebeek Kasteel, Tombo, and Port Shepstone. Additionally, the programme extends to public pools in cities like Cape Town, George, and Durban, aiming to reach ambitious targets of 25 000 Survival Swimming lessons and 1 million water safety lessons annually.

Community involvement and support

The success of the NSRI's drowning prevention efforts is heavily reliant on community involvement and support. The organisation encourages schools and clubs to invite them for safety presentations and promotes volunteer opportunities for strong swimmers to become Survival Swimming instructors. Public participation and donations are critical, with each water safety lesson costing just R10 per child.

Two key figures in the NSRI's drowning prevention initiatives are Caville Abrahams and Siya Mtethwa. Caville Abrahams, the Western Cape Drowning Prevention Regional Team Leader, plays a crucial role in coordinating various programmes, including free swimming lessons and water safety education. He focuses on teaching water safety to all age groups, with a particular emphasis on children.

Siya Mtethwa, who is also a dedicated NSRI crew volunteer in Durban, organises and conducts survival swimming sessions and water safety workshops across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). His work is instrumental in educating the public about the dangers of water and teaching them how to respond to emergencies. Both Caville and Siya are just two examples of the pivotal role that staff members play in the NSRI's mission to prevent drownings and promote water safety through education and community engagement.

- Herman Eloff