Hundreds of people will soon be heading to various beachfronts, rivers and dams to cool off as part of the summer holidays.
Sadly, many will return home in body bags.
According to the Medical Research Council’s latest data, drowning is the second-highest cause of death by injury, and 61% of drownings occur in the sea, lakes and dams.
Linda Els, project manager of the National Sea Rescue Institute’s educational component, Waterwise, said most victims are children from poor communities.
‘Previously disadvantaged communities are at greater risk and there are peaks in the graphs at one to four years of age and again between nine and 14 years,” she said.
She said most tragedies involve children from inland who take to water without the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with emergencies.
The recent tragedy of a Limpopo boy who drowned in a river bears testimony to Els’s observation.
Clement Shikwambane clearly lacked swimming skills.
According to a newspaper report, Shikwambane (14), a grade six learner, joined friends for a swim in the local river. When they arrived they found the river was too dangerous for swimming. But as they stood on the banks pondering their next move, Shikwambane slipped and fell in the water.
Waterwise is geared at reducing accidents such as this. Els said it is targeted at youths, particularly those at schools where they are trained in a practical way to become ‘sensible and capable water users”.
‘We do not teach them how to swim. Rather, we teach them water safety so that they know what to do when things go wrong,” said Els.
A key aim is to empower children, providing training in rendering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR is the first step in rescuing a drowning victim. Els said Waterwise has begun holding workshops inland where the bulk of drownings takes place.
‘The support we are getting from learners and teachers is phenomenal and we were also encouraged by their willingness to learn,” said Els. And she reckons it is only by having more ‘water wise” people that more lives can be saved.
The training is based on an acronym called ‘Plan”. Explained Els:
- ‘P” stands for prepare — emphasis is on making sure you have everything you need — hat, sun cream, water and cellphone, among others.
- ‘L” stands for look — examine the conditions before you put your toe in the water. Are there rocks? Is there a storm coming? Look at signs that warn you about sharks, tides or areas demarcated for swimming.
- ‘A” stands for ask — make sure you ask someone — your parents, lifeguards — whether it is safe to swim. In short, communicate to make sure what you do is right.
- ‘N” stands for never — never swim with your clothes on, never swim alone, never allow yourself to be ‘too” hungry, tired, thirsty, cold. Any of these conditions would predispose you to the possibility of drowning.
How to avoid drowning
Learn to swim. A total of 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Swimming is therefore a survival skill. Every person must learn to swim.
Never go swimming alone. Swimming alone is always unsafe because when in difficulty a person is not able to deal with the problem. Common problems include a fall that can cause concussion; a cramp that immobilises the muscle and makes movement difficult; fainting, epilepsy; and ‘blacking out” in the water — these can happen to anyone at any time.
Do not swim in a river mouth. This is where the sea and river meet. The sea water flows over the river. The undercurrent from the river into the sea is very strong and cannot be seen. This ‘sucks” anything or anyone into the sea.
Never dive into unclear or shallow water. Diving is the thrust of one’s body headlong into water. A bump on one’s head into anything at thrust speed will cause serious damage. A crack to the scull would cause unconsciousness. A broken neck may cause paralysis.
Do not play in marshy areas, on rocks and river banks. Marsh causes slippery surfaces, which are dangerous. River banks may be unstable and may give way when stepped on. A sudden fall in unknown depths is always dangerous.
Beware of submerged animals, such as crocodiles and rhinos. Submerged animals do not like intrusion into their space. When these animals attac,k they pull one under water immediately. These animals usually keep close to the banks.
Beware of fast-flowing water and undercurrents. Water flowing out of a pipe has a force strong enough to push an elephant over. During a flood the volume of water increases the strength of the flow. Do not shelter under a bridge during heavy rains and floods — the water that collects under a bridge causes a stronger flow.
Check the depth of water before entering it. When entering a river, lake or dam put a stick into the water to check the depth before walking in.
Always have a rope or stick to help someone in trouble. Only a qualified lifesaver may get into the water to help someone who is in difficulty. If a friend is in trouble do not get into the water to help. Always carry a ‘reach rescue rope” — a stick with a long rope attached, which has a floating device on the end. Throw the floating device to your friend; lie flat on your belly and pull the person to safety while he/she holds on to the device.
Adult permission and supervision is a MUST. Never go swimming without permission. Your parents/guardians or neighbours should always know where you are. Always let your parents/guardians know who is going with you.
Compiled by Easlyn Fredericks, Learn to Swim manager, Swimming South Africa