Stay safe around water this summer

In Pretoria, it can get hot during the day in summer, and sometimes, nothing can be more relaxing than a nice cool swim.

Some families will head down to the sea, others might head out to a local dam or river, and some luckily have access to a swimming pool.

But alarmingly, drowning cases in South Africa are high yet many are preventable.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute, around 1 500 South Africans die from drowning every year, with about 30% of those drownings being children under 14. Data show that 95% of drownings occur in fresh water and 65% in the summer months.

Prepare yourself and your kids before you head out with some simple guidelines:

Never swim alone

Always have a buddy system in place, and always supervise children around water – even if your child is a proficient swimmer. Drownings can happen incredibly quickly while no-one is looking.

Know how to swim

It may seem like an obvious pointer, but knowing your swimming abilities and physical limits are very important before you head out into the water. More importantly, know the swimming abilities of those with you, ensure that all kids are safely within their swimming capabilities, and keep an eye out that they are not venturing into dangerous waters.

No diving and jumping

Not only can someone be injured by jumping into water that may appear deeper than reality, but there might be another swimmer in the water that could be hurt. Unless absolutely familiar with the swimming spot, it is best not to engage in this dangerous behaviour.

Stay away from fast flowing water

Water currents can be incredibly strong such that the strongest swimmers may be unable to cope. Sometimes, waters that appear calm can have very strong currents under the surface. As a rule of thumb, always be extra cautious in flowing water.

Familiarise yourself with the swimming place

Check the rules and regulations at your swimming spot. This will also help to familiarise yourself with what you should do in case of an emergency. Locate any lifesaving staff or first aid areas, as well as any contact numbers – you could save a life.

Check the weather

Look at weather forecasts before going out for a swim and pay attention to any change in the weather while you are swimming. Not only is it dangerous to swim in certain weather conditions, such as lightning, but heavy rains upstream can cause flash floods and rising water levels in come bodies of water.

Don’t jump in to save a friend

Call for help first. Only jump in once you have called for help and if you are sure that you are not putting your own life in danger. Professional lifesavers are trained on how to help someone in the water. Not only could you be putting yourself in the same danger as the drowning person, but in their panic, they could drag you under the water.

Choose the correct swimwear

Swimwear is specifically designed to enable us to swim. It is important not to swim in bulky every day clothes or loose fitting clothes that could get in the way or that could cause someone to become entangled.

No alcohol

Finally, many people might be tempted to cool off after a few drinks. Alcohol can cause people to become confused and clumsy increasing the likelihood of drowning. What’s more, an intoxicated person cannot adequately help someone in danger or monitor others around bodies of water.

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