When it comes to water safety, you can’t be too cautious. The Medical Research Council cites drowning as the third highest cause of accidental deaths in children under the age of five. And while we tend to be more aware of water safety when we’re out and about, research shows that young children are most likely to drown in and around the home – in swimming pools, baths, fish ponds and even buckets. According to the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of South Africa, small children can drown in as little as four centimetres of water, in just a few minutes. Irreversible brain damage can also occur in a matter of minutes.
Older children, aged nine to 14 years, are more likely to drown at sea. Rip currents in the sea claim the lives of many South African children and adults each year. A rip current occurs when water flows towards the beach over shallow water or sandbanks. To get back to sea, it forms a strong rip (or river) of water between two shallower areas. The water in the rip can move as fast as two metres per second, and is impossible to swim against.
While rip currents can be difficult to spot, strong rip currents can give off some telltale signs, says the NSRI. Here’s what to look out for:
- Water through a surf zone that is different in colour to the surrounding water.
- A break in the incoming pattern of waves.
- Seaweed or debris moving out through the surf zone.
- Isolated turbulent and choppy water in the surf zone.
Be water wise
- Secure any areas around your home which pose potential drowning hazards to children. Cover fish ponds with chicken wire and safeguard your swimming pool with a secure pool net and a fence and gate with a lock.
- Always wear a life jacket when you’re on a boat at sea. A life jacket will prevent drowning in rough conditions, and will keep you afloat even if you are unconscious.
- Swim only in areas where lifeguards are on duty, and stay between the red and yellow flags.
- If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and do not try to swim against the current, cautions the NSRI. Rather let the current take you out to sea. It won’t take you out more than a few hundred metres and it won’t pull you under. Raise an arm to alert people on the beach that you are in trouble. Once the rip current has abated, swim parallel to the shoreline to escape it. Then use the incoming waves to get back to shore.
- Teach your children to have respect for water. WaterWise uses the acronym PLAN to help children remember what to do when they are at the beach, dam or river:
P is for Prepare: Pack a bag for your trip to the beach. Remember food, water and a swimming costume. Do not swim in clothes. Know who to call in an emergency – the ambulance telephone number is 10177.
L is for Look: Look out for waves and rip currents. Slippery rocks are dangerous. Never turn your back on the sea.
A is for Ask: Ask an adult to watch you when you swim. Always tell an adult where you are going and when you will be back
N is for Never: Never swim alone. Never swim with your clothes on. Never drink alcohol and swim. Never swim if you are very tired, hungry or cold.