The summer season, which has seen scores of locals flock to Helderberg shores or municipal pools for a refreshing dip to beat the heat, has brought to the forefront the often under-appreciated safety asset that comes in the form of lifeguards.
Last Wednesday (16 February), these unsung heroes received a deserving pat on the back for their invaluable services, which create a safer swimming environment for all.
“We are grateful and proud to have such dedicated lifeguards doing duty in difficult circumstances on our beaches and at our swimming pools.
“Our lifeguards are City of Cape Town ambassadors and play an important role as the interface between the City and residents,” said Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Health.
“Many of us visited beaches and pools during the hot summer days, and it is good to know lifeguards are present to lend a helping hand when someone is in distress. We would like to thank our lifeguards for their service.”
Since many residents are expected to visit beaches and pools on hot days that lie ahead, the City’s Recreation and Parks Department allocated 280 seasonal beach lifeguards and 278 seasonal swimming pool lifeguards for the summer season. Of these numbers Van der Ross, on enquiry, divulged that the City assigned 57 of the appointed seasonal beach lifeguards to the Helderberg coastline from Macassar Beach to Kogel Bay. These include Strand Beach, Harmony Park Tidal Pool, Gordon’s Bay Beach and Bikini Beach, with nine seasonal swimming pool lifeguards in action at Strand Indoor Swimming Pool.
Van der Ross said these lifeguards have been offering their services to the public since October last year, and will continue with daily duties from 10:00 until 18:00 until Monday 18 April.
Although lifeguards will be keeping a watchful eye, she said that safety of minors in parents’ care must remain top priority in and around water.
“Beachgoers should not swim in isolated areas where lifeguards are not present and where the likelihood for rip currents to occur is high,” Van der Ross said. “The safest place to swim is between the designated red and yellow flags when and where lifeguards are on duty.”
The Recreation and Parks Department recorded 43 non-fatal and 23 fatal drownings along the coastline from 1 September last year up until 13 February.
Of these, Van der Ross said eight near-drownings and four fatal incidents were recorded at Helderberg beaches. “Furthermore, lifeguards performed a number of successful water rescues and countless preventative actions in addition to the non-fatal drownings recorded along the coastline this season,” she added.
The collaboration and support between the services of Recreation and Parks, lifesaving clubs, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Disaster Risk Management, Law Enforcement, Metro Police, Fire and Rescue, Traffic, Social Development (Identikidz), ambulance services, EMS/AMS Rescue helicopters, police and the police dive unit added to the visitor experience and highlighted the importance of each organisation in achieving the common goal which is to prevent drownings.
“Let us acknowledge the important role of our lifeguards. Let’s work together and assist them by adhering to the rules on beaches and at swimming pools, so we can create and maintain a safe environment together. Safety at our beaches and pools is everyone’s business.”
