Be safe near water this holiday season
It is the time of year that thousands of South Africans pack their bags and head for rivers, dams and the sea.
This is also the time of the year that the volunteers at Sea Rescue are kept on their toes and are called to help people in trouble at sea and on our dams on a daily basis.
Here are a few tips from Sea Rescue’s educational arm, the WaterWise Academy, to keep children safe while on holiday.
“Do not let your children out of your sight for one second when they are playing in the water, or swimming,” says Andrew Ingram, Manager of the NSRI’s WaterWise Academy.
“Contrary to popular belief children do not thrash around and shout for help when they are drowning. They may be able to wave and shout for help when in distress, but drowning is often completely silent.”
“A person who is vertical in the water, with their head tilted back … may be a person in desperate need of help,” said Ingram.
Children should never swim alone. When planning a trip to the sea choose a beach that has life savers on duty and swim only between their flags. If you do this you don’t need to worry about rip-currents, the life savers will do this for you, and if you get into difficulty they will come and help you.
“If you are caught in a rip current and feel yourself being pulled out to sea do not panic.
The current will slow down as it gets further out. Simply swim parallel to the beach and then use the waves on either side of the rip to help you get back in to the beach.Or, if you are tired, float on your back and wave for help.”
“Before going to the beach apply sunscreen and reapply during the time that the kids are playing. Make sure that they have hats on and try to keep out of the sun between 11 and 3pm.”
“Never turn your back on the sea,” adds Ingram.
“This is most important for children playing on rocks, and something that should be reinforced in children on holiday in an unfamiliar place.”
“Whenever setting out on a boat always put a personal floatation device on your kids before you launch. Lifejackets are the seat belts of the sea. It is extremely difficult to put a lifejacket on once you are in the water. Try doing this in a swimming pool where it is nice and calm and you will see what I mean,” says Ingram”
“ Make sure that you, as the responsible adult in the boat, have a cell phone with fully charged batteries in a waterproof pouch, a cd or mirror, red distress flares and a referees whistle to signal with. These should be attached to your lifejacket and not in a cupboard or locker.”
“Make sure to check your safety equipment and practice using it before you need to,” said Ingram.
“Alcohol and water do not mix. You would not drink and drive so don’t drink and swim.”
Take the time to put emergency telephone numbers into your cell phone before your holiday. In a real emergency it is very difficult to stay calm and remember what number to use. Make sure that you have the ambulance telephone number 10177 and in the Kwa-Zulu Natal area the Police phone number 10111 and have your local Sea Rescue number (see www.searescue.org.za) programmed into your phone before you need them.