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Rules for safe swimming include never swimming alone, and ensuring that a responsible adult is present
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WaterWise, the education initiative of NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute), held a series of workshops in Plettenberg Bay and East London during Marine Week in October. Sponsored by Penny Pinchers in Plett and Manlanbo Construction in East London, these workshops aim to teach youngsters more about safety around water, and what to do in the event of an emergency. Rules for safe swimming include never swimming alone, and ensuring that a responsible adult is present. Tips for checking safe swimming conditions aim to educate about the responsibility of self-rescue. Children are also shown basic CPR skills, and encouraged to practice rescue breaths and chest compressions on CPR dolls.
Drowning is a leading killer of children between the ages of nine and 14 in South Africa. Inland drownings in rural areas are of great concern. Children are pretty good at getting into trouble by themselves. Accidents happen quickly and are unplanned events. WaterWise aims to teach kids how to get out of trouble in the water, and how to breathe for their buddy until an ambulance arrives.
Paramedics have confirmed that if bystanders at accident scenes are able to start CPR immediately, chances of survival are greater. Central to the WaterWise programme is assessable CPR skills for bystanders at accident scenes. The WaterWise motto is: Be a Hero — Learn CPR. WaterWise serves as the layman’s guide to saving lives.
A local Plett swimming instructor commented: “These kids learned some stuff today that could really save their lives. That’s totally cool.”
The WaterWise summer message is this: Have fun in the water this summer. Remember the rules for safe swimming. Know what to do if things go wrong. Memorise the emergency number (082 911). Learn CPR. It saves lives.
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