CAPE TOWN – Beachgoers have been warned to be cautious when visiting beaches along Cape Town’s coastline this summer.
The City of Cape Town issued a statement this week saying the school holidays were underway and its “Safe Zone” drowning-prevention campaign was in full swing. This is one of several initiatives to ensure public safety, and water safety in particular, the City said.
The campaign encapsulates the four golden rules of drowning prevention, which are:
- Swim only between the lifeguards’ red and yellow flags at beaches;
- Do not bring alcohol to the beach and do not drink and swim;
- Be alert to the dangers of rip currents;
- Actively supervise children at all times, especially around water.
Designated swimming beaches and City swimming pools are manned by lifeguards daily, between 10:00 and 18:00, the City said. It urges the public to make sure children know to follow the lifeguards’ instructions and to stay in the shallow end of the pool or surf if they are not strong swimmers. Furthermore, they said children under the age of 7 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times, when visiting City swimming pools.
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The Identikidz programme is also launching at 15 of the City’s busiest beaches from Monday 15 December as a child safety measure. Parents can register their children so that they can be issued with their identification armbands in order to contact caregivers, should the child be lost.
“The active supervision of children is something that needs to be top of mind at all times, not just at our beaches. With the school holidays now in full swing I want to caution parents to please put their children’s safety first, and to ensure that they are always in the care of a responsible adult.
“The City has numerous ‘safe zones’ for children this summer,” said Francine Higham, Mayco member for Community Services and Health, “including a host of recreational facilities and libraries with facilitated programmes to keep them engaged in meaningful ways. But child safety is a shared responsibility, always know their whereabouts what they are wearing, who their friends are and where they live.”
For more information visit www.thesafezone.co.za.
Children can be registered on the Identikidz programme on the City of Cape Town website.
