Water safety tips for this festive season
It’s that time of the year when everyone needs to be extra cautious when out and about with children.
SUMMER festivities are at our doorsteps, schools are closed, industries about to shut down and long trips to different holiday destinations will soon be undertaken with lots of excitement and fun.
Summer holidays are a joyful period of the year, but it’s that time of the year when everyone needs to be extra cautious when out and about with children.
Between frenzied travelling to different destinations, shopping and holiday parties, it can be hard to keep track of the little ones domestically and among the crowds. Always know where your child is and keep them safe.
Home is where children grow and learn, the place where they find comfort, love, care and feel safe. Swimming is part of enjoyment to keep cool in hot weather conditions.
Water safety tips:
• Never leave children alone near open water sources. Unattended children for few seconds near the water source exposes them to the possibility of drowning.
• Summer is known as a rainy season and many open and unguarded water sources such as trenches, culverts, rivers are filled with water, expose children to drowning.
• It is a norm for children to splash around in the water during bath time. Playing in water is great fun for children but unfortunately drowning is always a possibility because of few drops of water which might be breathed down the airway (nose and lungs) to prevent and block air passage.
• At home, never leave buckets and baths full of water unattended to because toddlers might fall in them and drown.
• Wading pools or splash pools should always be emptied when playtime is over.
• Teach children to swim. Never leave them alone in the pool. Backyard swimming pools must be fenced around to keep children out. The gate must always be kept locked. Safety net/sheet covering the entire pool should be intact to prevent children of all ages from sneaking in without parents or adult’s supervision.
• Municipal pools, holiday resorts pools and coastline swimming, mostly have lifeguards to assist in case of drowning. However, drowning doesn’t need copious amount of water and much time; it takes a few drops into the airway and can be sudden. A responsible adult with necessary skills should keep a close watch on children.
• Wearing a properly fitted life jacket or an inflatable swimming device while inside the water doesn’t prevent drowning. Accountability and responsibility of an adult are required.
• Never cross flooded bridges and rivers if water is above the ankle level. Common practice is that many people use water pipe-lines across river streams as bridges or routes to destinations which is dangerous. Use appropriate alternative routes instead.
Be prepared for an emergency:
To prevent accidents, one of the best things to do is to prepare for an emergency because it can strike at any time. Keep your children safe and alive.
•Learn basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Heimlich manoeuvre (abdominal thrusts) procedures.
• Know your local life-threatening emergency numbers wherever you are. Ensure that numbers are readily and clearly displayed for everyone to know and to use.
•Alternatively, know national emergency numbers.
•Try to be calm and given the exact address and what happened to the call centre operators to save time.
•Keep a record of reference number given from call centre.
• Assemble a first aid kit with emergency instructions.
• Teach your child how to activate emergency services as well.
City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) is on high alert throughout the entire festive season to be able to attend to any emergency life-threatening eventualities that might occur that are in line with emergency services prerequisites.
In case of emergency
• In case of emergencies within the City of Ekurhuleni call our direct line: 011 458 0911, cell phone 112, or National emergency number 10177.
• Numbers should be saved and easy to access on your telephone or cellular phone.
• Speak clearly on the phone when reporting an emergency.
• Provide the operators with all the necessary details required.
• Do not end the conversation until all questions are answered.
Issued by William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Emergency Services
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