It’s that time of the year where swimming pools and beaches get full and over-crowded and some people end up losing their lives.
Some love to show off, thinking they’re ready to swim and reality disagrees with them.
This is when children run off to swimming pools without parental guidance.
The Ekurhuleni disaster management services has advised Mzansi to stay safe this summer.
The EMS spokesman, William Ntladi said lungs are the life sustaining organs found in the chest cavity.
“The main function is to supply the other vital organs with oxygen from the atmosphere via the circulatory system to sustain life,” said Ntladi.
“Drowning is respiratory impairment because of submerging in or under the liquid predominantly water. The results of drowning can either be near or complete drowning which is fatal.
One doesn’t need copious amount of water to drown but only few drops inside the airway,” he said.
Schools will close, children will be roaming around enjoying their holidays, therefore, parents are urged to look out for their kids.
“The temptation of swimming in unmonitored open water pods is very high. These pods vary in depths, in certain areas. Some areas are quite deep and muddy which act as a trap zones for the unsuspecting victims,” said Ntladi.
The following are the Key prevention Tips:
• Know where your child is and what is always doing.
• Keep them away from rivers, lakes and all other open water sources.
• Fence the pool around and keep the gate locked.
• Coversheet should be in place when the pool is not in use.
• While swimming in the pool, children should be under Adult supervision.
• Ritual and religious practices in and around the rivers and lakes by adults, still spell danger of drowning. Life jackets are prominent for those entering the water.
• Cross the river using an appropriate route such as vehicle and pedestrian bridges unlike water and sewerage pipes constructed over the rivers.
