The effectiveness and need for the continuation of the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Pink Rescue Buoys initiative was again highlighted last week, after the organisation marked 100 lives being saved using the devices.
According to the NSRI, the role of a flotation device during a drowning rescue is often overlooked and having these devices freely available for public use, is making a real impact in South Africa. These devices are also strategically erected at beaches in Strand and Gordon’s Bay.
Dr Jill Fortuin, the NSRI’s executive director for drowning prevention, said the initiative was founded in November 2017 and they know of at least 102 lives saved with the innovative flotation devices, although the number excludes any incidents where the pink buoys were used and replaced without the NSRI being informed of the incident.
“The success of this initiative is overwhelming evidence that supports the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2017 report on preventing drowning – an implementation guide. In this report, the WHO stated all citizens should be taught safe peer rescue techniques (such as throwing or using a flotation device) and how to do CPR, which is what the NSRI has been doing since our water safety education programme started in 2006,” she stated.
“All rescues that have been attempted with a pink rescue buoy have been successful and no harm has come to any rescuers, which is what evidence from similar programmes worldwide have also shown. We have noticed that most incidents where pink buoys are used are when people are caught in rip currents, making it crucial for beachgoers to understand why they should swim where lifeguards are on duty and know how to spot a rip current.”
Fortuin reminded swimmers at beaches, dams and rivers to look out for the NSRI’s pink rescue buoys. “They are bright pink in colour allowing them to be easily seen, in an event of someone getting into difficulty in the water, they can be used as emergency flotation until help arrives,” she said.
Andrew Ingram, the NSRI’s drowning prevention manager, added: “The pink buoys are public rescue equipment and there to save lives. This is the only reason that they should be removed from their poles. A stolen buoy could be a stolen life.”
