The City of Cape Town’s Identikidz programme aims to keep young beach goers safe should they get lost, and will be available at 16 beaches over the festive period.
Over a five day period between December 15 and 19, staff tagged 29 759 children while seven children who were separated from their families, were safely reunited (two at Strand, three in Strandfontein and two at Muizenberg).
The Identikidz concept requires parents or caregivers to register their children as they arrive at participating beaches. The child is issued with a wristband, containing their caregiver’s contact details, in the event that they get separated during their visit to the beach.
The project is running over 16 days on the following dates:
- 15, 16,17 ,18,19, 25, 26 and 31 December 2021.
- 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 January 2022 on 14 of the 15 beaches
- Maiden’s Cove – only 26 December and 1 and 2 January 2022
Beaches where parents and caregivers can find Identikidz staff are: Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Strandfontein in the south; Gordon’s Bay, Strand, Monwabisi, Harmony Park, and Mnandi in the east; Big Bay, Sea Point and surrounding area, Silwerstroomstrand, Camps Bay, Lagoon Beach, Melkbosstrand, Millerton Beach, and Maiden’s Cove in the north.
There were no fatal drownings at any City facilities over the first peak weekend of the festive season. Lifeguards responded to three non-fatal drownings:
Friday, Dec 17 2021, Monwabisi Beach, 18-year-old female
Friday, Dec 172021, Camps Bay Beach, 22-year-old female
Sunday, Dec 19 2021, Monwabisi Beach, 22-year-old female
The fact that there were no fatal drowning incidents during a very busy weekend at the Cape beaches and swimming pools is testament to the hard work of the lifeguards.
“We have at least two more very busy weeks ahead of us, and… urge everyone to keep a cool head and do their bit to make the festive season safer and more enjoyable for everyone,” the City says.
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Picture: Unsplash