It is a basic requirement for certified lifeguards and swimming teachers to be qualified in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but they are certainly not the only ones who should be educated in pool safety.
In South Africa, the large majority of swimming pools – be they public or private – are likely not supervised by qualified lifeguards. Therefore, the responsibility falls on individuals such as parents, older teenage siblings and even childminders to learn CPR and to ensure that water and pool safety guidelines are adhered to.
For the uninitiated, CPR is a series of chest compressions and breaths proven to help resuscitate a child or adult in the case of asphyxiation.
The National Sea Rescue Institute estimates that there are 2 000 fatal drowning incidents in South Africa every year, with some 600 of these involving children. And those most at risk are children from poorer communities, with many drowning in fresh water, farm dams, swimming pools and rivers – areas where no lifeguard is on duty.
There is a belief among many adults that knowing CPR would not help them to save a child who gets into trouble in the water. But this is certainly not the case.
CPR is one non-negotiable skill you need when you’re taking a child for a swim.
It’s crucial to remember that “seconds count” when it comes to saving a life, which is why learning CPR is so important.
Immediate, hands-on CPR performed by a bystander until an emergency crew arrives at the scene can make all the difference when it comes to preventing an unintentional death by drowning.
CPR classes are open to the public so it makes sense for all adults and older children to get certified. The Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa provides a comprehensive list of accredited training institutions that offer courses in CPR, First Aid and AED (automated external defibrillators).
The Family and Friends CPR Course is aimed at members of the public, family members, relatives and friends of adults and children at risk for sudden death. It is ideal for laypersons with no prior medical knowledge who want to learn life-saving rescue skills for their loved ones.
The course provides a basic orientation to the skills of CPR and choking for adults, children and infants, and how to activate the emergency services. A 55-page booklet is provided to each participant for review before, during and after the course.
The course takes three hours to complete and is taught in person, by certified instructors.
Remember, the responsibility is yours.