Pretoria – The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) has warned residents to be vigilant against drowning this festive season.
The DEMS has called on residents to follow water safety tips, as drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths among people between the age of 5 and 24 years.
This festive season, social gatherings will be mostly held around public or private swimming pools as well as at lakes, dams and rivers.
This will inevitably put people's lives at risk, particularly young children and people who do not know how to swim.
“Summer time is a fun time with great weather for children to play in and around water. However, swimming can be potentially dangerous.
“Parents need to recognise that swimming lessons do not protect kids from drowning, only constant supervision can,” said Emergency Services spokesperson William Ntladi.
Parents are urged to keep an eye on their children and to know of their whereabouts at all times in areas where there are water bodies or swimming pools.
According to Ekurhuleni Municipal spokesperson Themba Radebe, it is important for residents to know the types of precautions to take to keep their children safe in the water.
Residents are urged to call emergency numbers in the event of an emergency. The Ekurhuleni’s DEMS Emergency Number: 011 458 0911 (paid line); the National Emergency Number: 10177 and the Cell phone Emergency number: 112. - SAnews.gov.za
