Learn to swim and make sure that your children are taught to swim properly. In a water-loving country like South Africa we spend a lot of time in the summer around water, be it at the beach, at a river, lake or dam, in a swimming pool, or even in a paddling pool.
Sending your child for swimming lessons will not only teach him or her to swim, but it will also ensure that they learn safe water practices. However, all the lessons in the world do not mean that your child can be left unsupervised in or near the water. A child can drown in half a bucket of water, so don’t turn your back for a second when your children are swimming or even in the bath.
Remember that if your children are going to learn a healthy respect for water, they need to learn it from you. Never swim alone, and never swim under the influence of alcohol or any other mind-altering substance.
At the beach
- Stay within the designated swimming area, within the visibility of a lifeguard.
- Check the surf conditions before you enter the water. You can do this by checking to see if any warning flag is up or by checking with a lifeguard for water conditions, beach conditions and any potential hazards.
- Stay away from piers, pilings and diving platforms when in the water.
- Do not swim at the mouth of a river as the debris being washed into the sea often attracts sharks.
- Keep a lookout for aquatic life as some water plants and creatures may be harmful.
- Always make sure that you have enough energy to swim back to shore.
- If you get caught in a current, don’t try to swim against it as this will merely exhaust you. Rather, swim to shore by gradually swimming across the current
