Tips to keep bathers and boaters safe
The NSRI urges public caution during festive season
WITH the onset of the school and university holidays, and the increased danger of drowning as thousands of people flock to the beaches, the NSRI has issued guidelines to promote water safety.
This warning extends to boaters and swimmers at inland rivers, dams, lakes and swimming pools.
Safety tips
Everyone living along the coast or visiting the coast should have their local Sea Rescue emergency phone number programmed in their phone.
In Richards Bay, the Station 19 emergency contact number is 082 9905949
Swim at beaches where and when lifeguards are on duty.
Lifeguards are on duty at selected beaches between 10am and 6pm on weekends and during the week in summer school holidays.
Listen to their advice and talk to them about safety on the beach that you are visiting.
They are the experts on that beach. If lifeguards are not on duty, do not swim.
Stay between the lifeguard flags at all times.
Teach children that if they swim between the lifeguard flags, the lifeguards will keep an eye on 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.
Don’t drink and drown – alcohol and water do not mix.
Don’t swim alone. If you are with a friend while swimming there is at least someone who can call for help if you need it and you can’t wave to the lifeguards or call for help yourself.
Supervision
Adult supervision and barriers to water are vital.
Adults who supervise children in or near water must be able to swim. This is vital if it is at a water body that does not have lifeguards on duty.
It is extremely dangerous to get into the water to rescue someone, so rather throw something that floats to the person in difficulty and call for help (112 from a cell phone or 082 990 5943 for Ricahrds Bay NSRI).
Children should not be able to get through or over barriers such as pool fences to water.
Don’t attempt a rescue yourself if you see someone in difficulty – call a lifeguard.
After calling for help try and throw something that floats to the person in difficulty such as a ball or a foam board.
Do not let children use floating objects, toys or tyre tubes at beaches or on dams.
You can very quickly get blown away from the shore and as much fun as tubes and Styrofoam are, it is easy to fall off them.
If a child can’t swim and falls off in deep water they will drown.
Do not be distracted by your cell phone or social media.
While you are looking after children in or near water you need to focus on them and nothing else.
Remember that drowning is completely silent. Someone who is drowning will not shout for help.
They will be vertical in the water (as though they are trying to stand or climb stairs) and they will then silently slip under the water.
Listening for children (or adults) in difficulty in the water is not good enough, you must be watching them very carefully.
Make sure that they are not getting in too deep or being swept by currents away from a safe area.
Boat safety
Boaters, paddlers, sail boarders and anyone launching any kind of craft onto water should wear their life-jackets at all times and carry easily accessible safety equipment. These include red distress flares, communications cellphone or VHF radio with fully charged batteries in water tight plastic sleeves, a waterproof torch, highly visible neon coloured clothing, and a referee whistle worn around the neck.
Let a responsible person know your time of departure, your exact intended route and your estimated return time and check in with the responsible person on your safe return. (If you are overdue, the responsible person should raise the alarm without hesitation).
Coastal paddlers and boaters are urged to download the free cellphone application NSRI RSA SafeTrx, which allows a user to programme their route into the cellphone app and in an emergency alert sea rescue authorities who can determine the exact position of the user.
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