Supervision is key to keeping your children safe in the water
Parents urged to keep an eye on their children this summer.
Although the rains have put a bit of a damper on this year’s spring, summer is on the way and many of us will want to take a dip to escape the heat.
This festive season many social gatherings be held around public or private swimming pools, as well as at lakes, dams and rivers.
This will, inevitably, put people’s lives at risk, particularly young children and people who do not know how to swim.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) remind residents to follow water safety tips, as drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths among people between the ages of five and 24 years.
“Summertime is a fun time, with great weather for children to play in and around water, however, swimming can be potentially dangerous.
“Parents need to recognise that swimming lessons do not protect children from drowning, only constant supervision can,” said Emergency Services spokesman William Ntladi.
Therefore, parents are urged to keep an eye on their children and to be aware of their whereabouts at all times, in areas where there are bodies of water or swimming pools.
“It is important for residents to know the types of precautions to take to keep their children safe in the water.
“Water-related accidents can be avoided by following a few simple guidelines to stay safe in and around water,” said Ntladi.
In the event of an emergency use the following numbers:
- The Ekurhuleni’s DEMS emergency number: 011 458-0911 (paid line)
- National emergency number: 10177
- Cellphone emergency number: 112
For water safety tips click here.
