“Experience water fun this summer, but always stay vigilant. Even a brief moment of distraction can turn joyous activities into tragic loss.”
So warns Bryony May, project coordinator for the Darcey Sunshine Foundation, further emphasising the importance of cultivating a water-safety culture during the summer holidays to prevent incidents of drowning.
After a devastating incident in which a little girl drowned in a family pool the foundation was established in 2021, to prevent further drowning tragedies. “Our primary focus is empowering vulnerable communities by providing water-safety education and survival swim skills to children and families,” May explained.
The Darcey Sunshine Foundation offers free programmes, including interactive water-safety presentations for up to 600 children, parent education sessions, Grade R water safety and survival swimming lessons in partnership with local swim schools and preschools, and beach-safety days at Strand, Muizenberg and Hout Bay for children who have completed the survival swim course.
May noted: “Our main target audience is preschool children from low to middle-income households. We are also developing a teen advocacy programme and expanding our parent education days.”
Local partnerships with early-childhood development centres have been vital in building a sustainable safety culture. These partnerships allow the foundation to engage with siblings and entire families, empowering communities. Each child is viewed as a success, having gained confidence, learnt new skills or the ability to respond effectively in an emergency.
Programmes are constantly evaluated to ensure children are engaged while learning.
“We measure our programme’s impact by assessing children’s baseline knowledge and skills before and after participation,” May said. The foundation’s efforts align with such global initiatives as the UN’s 2021 resolution on drowning prevention and it has garnered international attention.
Joining the global effort since 2023, the foundation hosts swimming events in July to raise awareness on World Drowning Prevention Day (25 July), inviting everyone to participate in these impactful activities.
May highlighted the risks associated with water, comparing them to everyday dangers such as road safety or household hazards. Drowning, she emphasised, is quick and silent, often occurring without cries for help.
- Lack of adult supervision: Teach children to always seek permission before approaching water and stress the importance of active supervision by adults. Alcohol consumption near water impairs judgment and can lead to accidents.
- Absence of basic swim skills: Promote learning survival skills such as floating on the back, staying calm, and reaching the edge for self-rescue. Encourage adults to take lessons too.
- Risks of rescuing others: Educate children to seek adult help and never enter the water to rescue someone. Use lifebuoys and other flotation devices for safe rescues from the edge.
- Rip tides and open water hazards: Teach respect for water, understanding sea conditions, rip tides, and swimming only in designated safe areas with lifeguards.
