Cape Town - The summer season is always associated with people visiting the ocean to cool themselves from the heat; however, this practice may have dire consequences if one is not equipped with water safety education.
According to the director of drowning prevention at Lifesaving South Africa (LSA), Mzi Mayedwa, about 1 500 people, mostly the youth, drown every year in the country. He said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is regarded as the third leading cause of unintentional injury worldwide and it accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths.
“Sadly, the low- and middle-income countries account for 90% of unintentional drowning deaths. Although the burden of drowning is high in South Africa, the picture is not all gloom because LSA, an affiliate and founding member of International Life Saving Society (ILS), with its drowning prevention centres which includes 55 surf clubs and 26 inland clubs and 13 associated members, has over 8 000 affiliated members who volunteer their free time to prevent drowning throughout SA,” said Mayedwa.
Mayedwa said to date his organisation has recorded more than 131 000 lives saved through rescues performed, thanks to their volunteers across the country who provide an essential volunteer community service at the highest international standards.
Mayedwa and LSA have provided the following safety tips for swimmers:
Swim where there are qualified lifeguards on duty
Qualified lifeguards are trained to be able to prevent drowning though identifying the dangers in the water, positioning the swimming beacons at a safe swimming point and when needed performing rescues, first aid and CPR.
Swim between the red and yellow flags
Red and yellow flags indicate the daily safe designated area that has been identified by lifeguards where it is safe to swim.
Before entering the sea, swimmers must take time to watch the waves and identify the rip currents.
Rip currents are strong and can wash bathers onto the rocks or pull them out to sea and away from the shore. Rip currents are extremely dangerous and can be found around rocks and points as well as along open stretches of beaches. It is important for swimmers to be aware of and avoid rip currents.
It is important to know your limits. Be careful if the sea is too rough, you could be swept away. Rough seas are as dangerous as rip currents as weak swimmers can easily be swept into deep waters. If you experience strong waves, get out of the sea, or at least do not go in deep.
Never swim while you are intoxicated. Alcohol impairs judgement and unnecessary risks are taken. An intoxicated swimmer will tire more easily, increasing the chance of an accident or drowning.
Check with the lifeguards on duty what the surf conditions are before entering the sea.
Listen to the lifeguards when they give you directions or instructions from the beach.
Avoid swimming immediately after a big meal as this could cause cramps.
Do not swim in river mouths or in dirty water very early in the mornings, early evenings or after it has rained as shark activity increases in these conditions.
Be careful of the bluebottles as they can be harmful.
Never leave a young child unattended near water and never make a child responsible for another child – not even for five minutes. Teach children to always ask permission to go near water.