As we enjoy the festive season, please keep these essential water safety tips in mind to protect yourself and your loved ones:
- Never swim alone and avoid swimming in the sea, dams, or rivers at night.
- Do not swim under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
- Always supervise children near water. Ensure they cannot access pools, ponds, water features, baths, buckets of water, or open toilets—young children can drown in as little as 4 cm of water.
- Secure your swimming pool with a pool net or an SABS-approved fence to prevent accidental falls.
- Swim only in designated areas at the beach where lifeguards are present and avoid swimming too far out.
- Remember, swimming in the sea is very different from swimming in a pool or dam, even for experienced swimmers.
- Only dive into water if you can see what’s below the surface, and always test the depth, first.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
- George Fire and Rescue: 044 801 6311
- Toll-Free Disaster Number: 087 152 9999
- NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute): 082 990 5955 | 087 094 9774
Stay safe and enjoy the water responsibly!
Supplied by George Municipality