Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death among young children worldwide. While no lesson can remove the risk entirely proper swimming instruction greatly reduces the chances of tragedy. Teaching children vital skills such as floating, breath control, treading water and swimming to safety can save lives.
To help protect young people in the West Coast, Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM), in partnership with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), continues to roll out its annual Survival Swimming Programme. The initiative runs twice a year – ahead of the December festive season and again before Easter – to help prevent drowning incidents.
Op Friday 5 December, the latest Survival Swimming event was held at Weskusskool in Saldanha, marking the fifth programme hosted locally with the NSRI. This initiative forms part of the Saldanha Bay Safety Initiative (SBSI) and the municipality’s ongoing Disaster Risk Reduction programmes aimed at ensuring a safer festive season, whether at the beach or during severe weather and flooding.
Key partners included the Department of Education, Emergency Medical Services, police, the Police Diving Unit, Police Sea Border, the Department of Social Development, the Arcelor Mittal Science and Research Centre, the Municipal Disaster Risk Management volunteers and other stakeholders.
The NSRI’s Survival Swimming Programme provides free training to youth and adults in under-resourced areas, teaching essential water safety skills and helping to build confidence around water. Around 80 learners participated, with learners nominated from:
• Masiphatisane Primary School
• Panorama Primary School
• Diazville High School
• Weskus Skool
• St Andrews Primary School
• Eden Primary School
• Weston Senior Secondary School
• Louwville High School
SBM thanks all school principals for their ongoing commitment to this programme, as well as parents and guardians for providing consent and encouraging participation and thank Weskus Skool for the venue.
During the busy holiday period, beachgoers are urged to do the following:
• Do not climb op rocks – they are slippery and dangerous.
• Swim only between the lifeguard flags – these areas are actively monitored to help keep you safe.
Emergency Numbers:
• Public Safety Control Room (24 hours): 022 701 6834
• NSRI Emergency (at sea): 087 094 9774
• NSRI Station 4, Club Mykonos: 082 990 5966
• NSRI Station 44, St Helenabaai: 082 757 2154
Let’s work together to keep our communities safe this festive season.
