DEMS continues with its summer safety awareness campaigns across the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).

As adverse weather conditions are negatively affecting Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the CoE’s DEMS and Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) continue with the campaign on safety practices to prevent loss of life.

Due to more adverse weather expected for the remaining summer season, incidents such as flooding with a high possibility of drowning, thunderstorms, heatwaves, droughts, and veld fires prompt DEMS and PDMC to remain on high alert and to intervene should the need arise.

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The recent campaign targeted shoppers at malls and commuters from taxi ranks.

The city aims to build resilient communities that can respond constructively and safely in life-threatening emergencies.

This campaign is a continuation of an initiative launched in October last year and is scheduled to conclude at the end of March 2026.

With drowning incidents peaking during summer, public awareness remains critical in educating communities about water safety practices.

Drowning is defined as death caused by the inhalation of water into the lungs, resulting in the inability to breathe.

Safety tips regarding drowning:

• Learn how to swim.
• Learn basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The skill helps to revive clinically dead patient(s).
• Don’t leave toddlers alone around swimming pools and bathtubs filled with water; they might crawl and fall inside and drown.
• Responsible adult supervision is needed around swimming pools to rescue drowning swimmers if necessary.
• A swimming pool safety net or turpoline should be placed accordingly to prevent unmonitored swimming activities.
• Playing and running around wet swimming pools edges might lead to injuries.
• Keep swimming pool perimeter fencing or walls and gates intact to keep children away from unmonitored swimming activities.
• Avoid jumping headfirst into pools without knowing the depth of the pool, as it might lead to injuries.
• Low-lying bridges submerged under water should be avoided to prevent being swept away by flooding waters.
• Children should be taken care of while crossing flooded streams to and from schools. Adults should guide them accordingly.
• Avoid building structures within floodlines. The possibilities of being swept away by flooded streams are high, and drowning is imminent.

“Cultural and religious open water stream practices should be considered extremely high risk. Wearing life jackets with a safety rope attached and anchored to a stationary, rigid object is of paramount importance, as this can save lives,” said Ntladi.