K9 Search and Rescue Middleburg’s W/O André Smit and his K9 partner Zues put on a show for the learners of Laerskool Goedehoop.
Learners of Laerskool Goedehoop were treated to a visit by local police, the Water Wing Unit from Middelburg, the police’s K9 Search and Rescue Unit from Middelburg and local paramedics from ER24 on Friday, January 21.
The topic of the day was to create awareness around water safety.
Learners were shown diving equipment that is used and how it is used by the Water Wing Unit when attending to water-related scenes.
But it was W/O André Smit and his K9 partner Zues that stole the show.
W/O Smit explained to learners that not only professional divers need life jackets and safety gear but K9’s also.
He said that even the best swimmers can drown.
Learners were warned not to go into dams or rivers if they cannot swim, and even if they know how to swim it is always important to wear a lifejacket to prevent drownings.
The learners were also taught important numbers in case of emergencies, such as the police’s 10111 number and ER24’s number 084 128.
K9 Zues entertained the learners with his high sense of smell which aids him to sniff out missing or drowned people.
The learners also got to see the inside of the ER24 ambulance and all the equipment they use daily.
K9 Search and Rescue Middleburg’s W/O André Smit shows learners that even his K9 partner Zues must wear a life jacket.
K9 Search and Rescue Middleburg’s W/O André Smit and his K9 partner Zues.
Creating water awareness are ER24 medics Dyoyi Thami, Prince Sibanyoni and Ms Madreline Meintjies,K9 Search and Rescue Middleburg’s W/O André Smit and his K9 partner Zues (in the middle) and on the right are Sgt Franshua Joubert and Sgt Andries Mochayi from the police’s Water Wing in Middleburg with Secunda Police W/O Newstar Twala and Sgt Jabulani Mnisi.
A learner from Laerskool Goedehoop keeps a tight hold on K9 Zues’s leash.
ER24 paramedic Madreline Meintjies speaks to the learners on important numbers to call when in an emergency.
W/O André Smit gives his K9 partner Zues a brush before the show.
Sgt Franshua Joubert and Sgt Andries Mochayi show learners that even the advanced swimmers need to equip themselves properly with gear when out on a diving scene.
Sgt Andries Mochayi of the Water Wing Middelburg Unit shows leaners diving equipment that is used at a scene.
W/O Liesl Horak of the Secunda police hands out wrist bands to learners.
K9 Search and Rescue Middleburg’s W/O André Smit and his K9 partner Zues put on a show for the learners of Laerskool Goedehoop.
Laerskool Goedehoop’s principal Mr Gawie van Niekerk, W/O Liesl Horak, Sgt Jabulani Mnisi and W/O Newstar Twala during the awareness campaign on water safety.
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