Water Safety Tips for the Festive Season

As we enjoy the festive season, please keep these essential water safety tips in mind to protect yourself and your loved ones:
• Never swim alone and avoid swimming in the sea, dams, or rivers at night.
• Do not swim under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
• Always supervise children near water. Ensure they cannot access pools, ponds, water features, baths, buckets of water, or open toilets—young children can drown in as little as 4 cm of water.
• Secure your swimming pool with a pool net or an SABS-approved fence to prevent accidental falls.
• Swim only in designated areas at the beach where lifeguards are present and avoid swimming too far out.
• Remember, swimming in the sea is very different from swimming in a pool or dam, even for experienced swimmers.
• Only dive into water if you can see what’s below the surface, and always test the depth, first.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
• George Fire and Rescue: 044 801 6311
• Toll-Free Disaster Number: 087 152 9999
• NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute): 082 990 5955 | 087 094 9774

Stay safe and enjoy the water responsibly!