While the Cape Town weather may have been cold and gloomy, lots of children were making sure to enjoy the last day to the fullest at the Long Street Indoor Swimming Pool baths, where the city’s Recreation and Parks Department commemorated World Drowning Prevention Day.

The initiative sought to raise awareness about drownings and highlight the city’s ongoing dedication to reducing drowning incidents through its Drowning Prevention Programme.

In Cape Town, over the 2024/2025 season, there were 14 lives lost to drowning, which has come down over the last couple of years.

Several Bo-Kaap grandmothers brought their grandchildren and used the opportunity to listen to the expert’s educational talk about World Drowning Prevention Day, in particular emphasising child safety.

Attendees received practical advice on responding to drownings, engaged in interactive water safety activities led by experienced lifeguards, and some of the children in attendance also got to explore the lifesaving equipment.

Parents were urged to actively engage whenever children are around bodies of water to help prevent drownings.

Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, said it is incredibly important to raise awareness around it as Cape Town does experience a lot of drownings, particularly in the summer season when the beaches are busiest.

“Events like this and our Learn-to-Swim programmes are so critical to ensure that people know how to be safe in the water. It is important that parents and guardians bring their children to our Learn-to-Swim program so that they can make the most of the opportunity – they are free to the public.

“You just need to find your local swimming pool and take part,” Higham said.

“We’ve had some of the senior citizens from the Bo-Kaap, and some of our parents, and little ones. It is important that our seniors and parents take note of drowning prevention and our programmes, as this is how we save lives at the end of the day.”

Naseba Edwards, one of the senior citizens from the Bo-Kaap, said that the programme is terrific and that they should have it more frequently if they can support it, as it gives the children a lot of courage.

“Most of them are scared to go into water, but they are enjoying themselves. (We’re wondering) How are we going to get them out of the water? I think this was a very good idea, and that they should keep on with it.”

Asa Williams, 66, from the Bo-Kaap Daycare Centre, said that they enjoyed being there to witness the initiative.

“I brought my own two grandchildren with me, and they are in the water, and they don’t want to come out. Actually, from us ladies, I think this was a terrific idea. And like Naseba said, they’ve got to do it more often.”

Zakeya Masoet, 76, from the Bo-Kaap, said the initiative was very interesting to witness because “before children go into the water, they must be water-aware”.

“You can drown just by falling into the water, and to me it was very interesting. The programme today was very interesting to witness because I’ve never seen a lifeguard saving someone from drowning. It could be my life also, so I will learn from this.”

Higham added that some of the seniors indicated they can’t swim, but that the Learn-to-Swim programmes are open to anyone regardless of age.

“Anyone who wants to take part, we encourage them. Some of our staff are also learning how to swim, so it is never too late.”

Masoet added: “At my age, I can still learn. You’re never too old to learn.”

Higham said that people can still apply to be seasonal lifeguards. Every year, the city recruits hundreds of seasonal lifeguards as part of its summer readiness initiatives to ensure the safety of thousands of people who visit municipal pools and beaches across the metro.

Based on its recruitment processes, the city enlists its chosen lifeguards and splits them into four categories – the beach lifeguard, senior beach lifeguard, swimming pool lifeguard, and senior swimming pool lifeguard – to cover its various water recreational facilities every season.

All candidates undergo competency testing during the selection process and must have a clean criminal record with no pending charges against them.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

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