NSRI call for safety-conscious mindset around water as lockdown eases

The National Sea Rescue Institute has urged South Africans to adopt a safety-conscious mindset around the coastline and on inland waterways as lockdown restrictions are eased.

The NSRI is a non-profit organisation that assist emergency rescue services with emergencies on South African waterways.

NSRI call for South Africans to be safety-conscious

They rely on volunteer rescuers and donations from the public for their existence and are particularly stretched at this time.

Observing basic safety protocols can prevent the need for a rescue, and all South Africans are called upon to be allies in this regard.

“The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is the charity that saves lives on South African waters. Our goal is to prevent drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives. NSRI is not a law enforcement agency.

“Our organisation is totally reliant on donations and sponsorships. This enables us to do the work of saving lives, changing lives and creating futures.

“While lockdown restrictions remain in place and beaches and inland waterways are not officially opened NSRI are nonetheless appealing to the public to exercise caution and to adopt a safety-conscious mindset around the coastline and on inland waterways as lockdown restrictions may gradually begin to ease.

“NSRI appeal to the public to maintain social distancing, wearing of masks and hand sanitising.”

NSRI

Safety tips 

• When families can return to the beach and to our inland waterways we urge parents to ensure that responsible adults supervise their children while they are swimming at beaches, inland waters and at home swimming pools and the supervisor should not be distracted from the task.
• Don’t swim, go paddleboarding, sailboarding or boating under the influence of alcohol.
• Paddlers and sailboarders are urged to be cautious and to take into consideration fitness, and competency levels which may have been reduced during lockdown restrictions and that may need some work before tackling any challenging conditions. 
• At this time of the year, some Provinces have lifeguards physically on duty at specific beaches, and some Provinces do not. Provinces where lifeguards do patrol beaches NSRI are informed that lifeguards will return to duty when lockdown restrictions are lifted or eased.
• Where and when lifeguards do return to patrolling beaches, the NSRI appeal to the public to make use of those lifeguard protected beaches and where there are no lifeguards on extra duty care should be taken by bathers.
• We appeal to anglers fishing along the shoreline to keep a safe distance away from danger, never turn your back to the sea and be aware of high tides, low tides and Spring tides.
• NSRI are appealing to boaters to ensure their boat engines are serviced and in good working order and boaters and paddlers must wear life-jackets while on the water.
• Check that your safety equipment – red distress flares, a referee whistle, highly visible clothing, fully charged cellphones and portable marine radio’s and capsize kits are all in tip-top shape and ready to be used in an emergency.
• Have an emergency plan in place before launching.
• Let a responsible person know your departure time, route and return time – check-in with that accountable person on your safe return.
• Before launching to go to sea, it is critical to your safety to download to your cell phone and make use of the NSRI RSA SafeTrx free cell phone app. NSRI Emergency Operations Centre and Maritime authorities monitor NSRI RSA Safetrx.

NSRI stations around the country and supporting water rescue agencies as well as the emergency services continue to remain on alert to respond to water-related emergencies. Sea Rescue appeal to bathers, boaters, paddlers and sailboarders to have NSRI emergency numbers programmed in their phones.

The NSRI emergency number is 0870949774 or call 112.

The rescue group warned that we are experiencing a full moon Spring tide which brings the usual higher than normal Spring high tides and lower than normal Spring low tides lasting into next week and extra caution is advised along the coast.