WITH the holiday season upon us, local beaches are expected to be filled with residents and holiday-goers. Those visiting beaches are advised to be well aware of, and comply with, the safety recommendations to avoid tragedies this holiday season.

Ansteys and Brighton Beach are the two Durban South public beaches officially open for this festive season, according to the municipality.

Also read: Strategies for Bluff beach safety

Beach safety tips

To ensure a safe, pleasant time at the beach, the municipality has given the following tips:

• Always listen to lifeguards’ instructions
• Know how to swim
• Avoid eating before you swim
• Enter the water feet first
• Never swim alone and always have a buddy
• Make sure that lifeguards can see you when you’re in the water and stay in designated areas with lifeguards present
• When stung by blue bottles or jelly fish, always approach the lifeguard
• When in trouble, do not panic, raise your hand to attract the lifeguards’ attention
• If you see someone in trouble in the sea, alert the lifeguards or find help
• Learn how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Do not swim while under the influence of alcohol
• Be cautious of weather hazards
• Look out for the beach safety signs

Also read: No holiday swimming: Lieutenant King swimming pool to remain closed for the festive season

How to escape a rip current

The National Sea Rescue Institute said rip currents were one of the main hazards along the coast. They provided the following lifesaving steps to escape being trapped in a rip current.

• Don’t panic and don’t fight the current
• Get out of the rip by swimming parallel to the shore
• Use the waves to help get you back to the beach
• Never swim into a rip to help somebody
• Rather throw them something that floats
• Use arm signals to show them to swim to the side

Keeping your family together

Spending a day at the beach with your loved ones can be a great experience, but with those fun moments in the sun comes the responsibility of ensuring the people around you are safe and within reach. Here’s some tips to keep track of your loved ones while enjoying the beach:

• Try to remember the street or location of the nearest beach entrance. Take a minute to point out nearby landmarks to your group, so if anyone gets lost, everyone knows some obvious landmarks or locations that can help guide them back to base
• Be visible – make sure there’s something about your setup on the beach that’s easily recognisable for any smaller children with you
• Set boundaries – encourage children to stay within certain landmarks when playing or swimming to avoid them getting moved by strong currents or busy crowds
• If children are by the waterline they should always have adult supervision, even if they’re strong swimmers

Call for help

Here are a list of emergency contact numbers if any assistance is required at the beach:

• NSRI emergency line – 112.
• eThekwini municipality emergency response call centre – 031 361 0000.
• Police – 10111
• Ambulance – 10177

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