International Water Safety Day was held on 15 May this year. The day is held to help spread global awareness about what the International Water Safety Foundation calls a “drowning pandemic” and to educate young people about becoming safer in and around water.
As a company dedicated to the safety of people, and particularly young people, around swimming pools Nets for Africa agrees with the International Water Safety Foundation’s claim that a lack of water safety education has “propelled drowning worldwide.”
Andrew Ingram, the national drowning prevention manager at the National Sea Rescue Insitute, said his organisation focused its attention this year on those most at risk of drowning – children younger than five.
“The places that toddlers face the greatest danger from water is in, and near to their home,” he said.
He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that any stored water in or close to homes is “child-safe”.
“Buckets, tanks and basins should be securely closed or inaccessible to children,” he stressed.
Four water safety interventions
The World Health Organisation suggests four interventions that will protect children from drowning:
- Install barriers controlling access to water, such as a pool safety net
- Provide safe places away from water for pre-school children, with capable child care
- Teach school-age children water safety and swimming skills
- Train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation
“Children can drown in only a few centimetres of water. Please make sure that your home is water safe,” said Ingram.
Water safety tips
The International Water Safety Foundation lists the following as the most important water safety tips:
- Learn to swim
- Know your limits – holding your breath is dangerous
- Swim in lifeguarded areas
- Wear a lifejacket!
- Stay away from frozen bodies of water
- To assist others, reach or throw, don’t go
- Follow all posted safety signs
- Don’t swim in bad weather
- Feet first! Never dive in shallow or unknown waters
- Buddy up – never swim alone