How to stay safe at beaches, pools, rivers and dams - IOL

The NSRI has urged members of the public to use a pink rescue buoy should they witness someone in distress.

As the weather improves and school holidays approach, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has urged the public to take water safety precautions when visiting beaches, swimming pools, rivers and dams.

NSRI head of communications Andrew Ingram said that with Term Three school holidays starting, temperatures rising and more people expected to spend time in and around water, families, swimmers, boaters, and anglers should take key precautions to prevent an emergency.

“Summer should be a time to enjoy the water safely, but increased activity along the coastline, dams, and rivers can also result in more people getting into difficulty. Many water-related emergencies can be prevented by planning ahead, choosing safer places to swim and supervising children closely,” Ingram said. 

The NSRI also warned that drowning is often silent, and a child in difficulty may be unable to splash, wave, or call for help. 

“Water safety starts before you leave home. Check where lifeguards will be on duty, make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency, and save the relevant emergency numbers on your phone. Most importantly, please actively supervise children whenever they are near water,” Ingram said.