In November 2022, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) shared troubling statistics on drowning incidents in the country. The study from 2016 to 2021 revealed that an annual average of 1 477 South Africans, primarily young children, lose their lives to drowning.
This figure was anticipated to rise further, influenced by the tragic floods in KZN in 2022, which resulted in the estimated loss of 435 lives.
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Dr Jill Fortuin, who leads the NSRI’s drowning prevention department, emphasised the vital role of educating children on water safety in mitigating drownings. She highlighted a remarkable milestone in August this year when the non-profit organisation delivered 120 000 lessons across all nine provinces.
‘But the efforts don’t end there,’ Jill elaborates, ‘We are well on our way to achieving our target of 750 000 this year, and we are gearing up our plans to hit our goal of 1 000 000 children taught in 2024.’
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The NSRI’s drowning prevention team has 39 instructors who focus on raising awareness regarding water hazards, providing guidance on responding to emergencies, teaching bystander CPR and deciding who to call for help. Since its launch in 2006, this initiative has reached over 4 million people with these crucial life-saving skills.
‘At a cost of just R10 to teach a child to be water-safe, it is the support and generosity of thousands of individuals and partners who have made this achievement possible and will continue to help us strive to hit that one million lesson mark in 2024,’ concludes Jill.
Here’s how to support the NSRI Drowning Prevention Programmes.
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Picture: NSRI / Facebook