NSRI:
World Water Safety Day – drowning a leading cause of death in toddlers – is
your home safe?
Drowning is a leading cause of death in
toddlers. The places that toddlers face the greatest danger from water is
in, and near to their home.
Children can drown in only a few centimetres of water which is
why anything from backyard swimming pools
to bathtubs and buckets pose a great risk.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is urging parents and
caregivers to ensure that their homes are water safe.
According
to Statistics South Africa, fatal drowning is the 5th leading cause of
unintentional death in the country with an estimated 350 children who die by
drowning in each year.
The 15th May is
International Water Safety Day and this
year, the NSRI is spreading awareness of the ongoing drowning pandemic in South
Africa and is focusing on educating the youth in becoming safer in and around
water through their school water safety program.
“Most drownings of children under five years of age are at, or
near, their home. Special attention should be paid to washing basins, baths,
dams, rivers and swimming pools. Small children should not be able to get close
to these dangers alone without responsible adult supervision. Older children
should also be reminded of the dangers that they face near water,” said Andrew
Ingram, Drowning Prevention Manager for the NSRI.
The World Health Organisation suggests four interventions that
will protect children from drowning:
- Install barriers controlling access to
water
pre-school children, with capable child care;
and swimming skills and;
resuscitation.
Sea Rescue’s
Water Safety Instructors prevent drowning tragedies through
education.
Their
lessons are focused on children from disadvantaged communities, where access to
water safety information is limited and the need is great. These are the
children who are most likely to drown. Their water safety lesson fits into a
school period and teaches children to be safe in and around water in fun,
interactive lessons.
They have taught
almost 3 million children how to avoid dangers in or near water, what to do in
an emergency, who to call for help, how to rescue a friend, and finally, how to
do hands-on CPR. The lesson is given at schools at no charge and during lock
down, NSRI instructors conducted virtual lessons. Schools and creches are
encouraged to reach out to the NSRI to arrange for lessons to be given in their
area.
Prevention
is key when it comes to water safety.
“It
is vital that parents and caregivers have knowledge of first aid and CPR, that they save their local emergency numbers in their phone and
make sure that their family members and children’s caregivers do the same”,
added Ingram.
In case of an emergency, call
112 from a cell phone or a landline.
You
can help the NSRI save lives by donating to their water safety programmes in
schools at www.nsri.org.za/donate
