Durban Beach December 2011

We would also like to share some advice shared earlier on the Road Safety Website:

• Before entering the sea swimmers should take time to watch the waves and should avoid places where there is a strong backwash, obvious rip currents or a danger of being washed onto rocks.

• Check the weather and tides before you leave home – if the sea’s too rough then you could get swept away.
• Only enter where the waves are straight and gentle.
• If you experience a strong current get out of the sea, or remain well within your depth.
• It is better to swim when the tide is rising as the sea will tend to wash you ashore and the backwash and rip currents are not so strong.
• Check with the lifeguard on surf conditions before swimming.
• If lifeguards give you directions or instructions from the stand, obey them. Look out for warning signs and flags:
- Red flag means it’s dangerous to swim.
- Red and yellow flag means lifeguards are on patrol and you should swim in the area between flags.
• Be considerate of other swimmers especially when surfing.
• Never swim while intoxicated. Alcohol impairs judgement, unnecessary risks are taken and a swimmer will tire more easily, increasing the chance of an accident.
• Avoid swimming immediately after a big meal, as there is a danger of getting cramps.
• Don’t dive into shallow sea – there are many paraplegics who broke their necks diving into shallow pools.
• Don’t swim in river mouths, dirty water or when bluebottles are present.
• Never swim alone – use the buddy system.
• Don’t overestimate your swimming ability, especially early in the summer when the water is cold. Swimming ability is severely decreased in cold water.
• If you are confronted by a large wave and there is not enough time to get away from it, try to dive underneath the wave. Keep your body as low as possible until the wave passes over you. Timing is important, dive into the base of the wave just before it breaks. Do not dive if the water is too shallow – instead crouch and keep a low body profile.
• If caught in rip currents, relax and swim toward the shore at a 45-degree angle until you are free of the current.
• Do not try to swim ashore against the current – it will only tire you.
• If the rip currents are strong, swim parallel with the shoreline in the same direction as the littoral current and then swim diagonally toward the shore.
• If you are not able to swim out of the currents, call or wave for help.

Durban Beach December 2011

Durban Beach December 2011

Durban Beach December 2011

The boy was standing on the step of the pool, when he allegedly slipped and fell into the water. A family member who witnessed the incident immediately rushed to the aid of the boy and pulled him from the water. The boy was not breathing and the family initiated CPR while calling emergency personnel to the scene.

After approximately 10 minutes of CPR the boy started breathing spontaneously. When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene the boy was fully awake. Paramedics then treated the 2 year old for shock before transporting him to a nearby medical facility for further treatment.

ER24 would like to commend the fast thinking family members for their actions and knowledge of first aid. If they had not initiated the CPR on the boy, the events of the day may had resulted in a tragedy.

Andre Visser, ER24

Officials from the National Sea Rescue Institute on Thursday said there have been at least 15 fatal incidents throughout the country at sea since the start of January.

In the most recent incident a man drowned at the Silwerstroomstrand Resort near Atlantis in the Cape on Wednesday.

The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon said they have resumed the search for a man presumed to have drowned at Nature’s Valley on the Garden Route.

“A 22-year-od Strand man remains missing. Police are on the scene continuing with the search,” he said.

Lambinon said since New Year’s Day, they have been kept busy.

[Story by Nathan Adams appeared on Eyewitness News]

Also view:

• Swimming Safety Tips to Avoid Accidents at Sea

What started off as a recreational swim in a pond for three girls from the community of Pacaltsdorp has ended in tragedy.

The three girls, aged between 10 and 12, had entered the pond to cool off. Two of the girls later told rescue workers that they felt as if they were becoming stuck in the muddy bottom. They then decided to leave the pond, but had lost sight of their one friend.

The girls then ran to their parents to inform them of what had happened. Police divers responded to the scene and later removed the body of a 12 year old girl from the pond. She was later declared dead at the scene.

With summer still upon us, ER24 would like to remind all individuals going to rivers, dam’s, beaches and any other bodies of water to be extra careful and take care when entering the water.

Andre Visser, ER24

Bronkhorstspruit Dam

Three people have died in a freak accident on the Bronkhorstspruit Dam after the pilot of their boat fell overboard.

Eddie dos Santos, 42, apparently lost control of his boat and fell overboard when he tried to turn too sharply to pick up his step daughter Claudia Barros-Botha, 25, and her husband Gawie Botha, 29, who had fallen off an inflatable chair.

The two youngsters who died in the accident were Ramon da Costa, 17, and his 16-year-old friend, Mikaela de Araujo. They’d apparently fallen off the boat.

The boat, which was going round incircles, hit dos Santos and the two youngsters.

Officials of the Catamaran Club rushed to the scene, but were only able to rescue the Bothas.

Dawn, the wife of dos Santos, collapsed when she was told of the tragedy. She could not believe he was dead and, cradling him in her arms, kep on shouting for him to wake up.

It was a terrible sight, according to Barry Page a safety officer at the dam.

Pilots of speed boats are supposed to have a cord attached to their life vest and to an emergency switch to prevent just such an accident from happening.

[Story by Fanie Van Rooyen appeared in Beeld and on News24.com]

An 8yr old girl has drowned at a dam about 25km outside of Potchefstroom this afternoon.

It is believed that the little girl was swimming with friends in the dam and somehow got into trouble and went under the water. The children ran for help and family came running to the aid of the girl. She was found in the dam unresponsive and CPR was started straight away.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene and found the family still doing CPR. They took over the medical treatment and continued with CPR. Advanced Life Support intervention was performed on the little girl but unfortunately after a long battle to revive her, she was declared deceased on the scene.

When paramedics left the scene, trauma councillors had arrived to comfort the family due to the traumatic nature of events.
Derrick Banks, ER24

This as thousands of people flocked to the beaches to celebrate New Year’s Day.

In one of the most recent incidents, a man drowned after suffering an epileptic fit in Jeffreys Bay.

The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon said, “We responded to at least 17 incidents around the coast on Sunday. They include drowning, boating accidents and medical emergencies.”

[Story from Eyewitness News]

Also view:

• Swimming Safety Tips to Avoid Accidents at Sea

ER24 received a call through say that a child had drowned and that members of public had pulled out of the pool and were doing CPR. The paramedics arrived on the scene and found the child lying on the floor with the members of public gathered around. They assessed him and found he had a pulse and was breathing on his own. He was taken through to a nearby hospital for a general medical intervention.

It is believed that the child was submerged under the water for 5 min. He was pulled out by family and a neighbour ran across and helps assist with CPR. The quick thinking of everybody to do CPR saved the boy’s life.

Derrick Banks, ER24

CPR and Road Safety

The two brothers, aged 11 and 12 years old were accompanied by their parents and another family on a fishing excursion to the dam on Sunday morning, said police spokesperson Warrant Officer Sam Tselanyane.

He said the boys went into the water at about 08:30.

“Seemingly while they were there they wanted to throw their nets into the river and they decided to take their nets deeper into the water using a canoe that they had found. They were not far into the water when the canoe capsized and they drowned.

“Their dad’s colleague jumped into the water to try and rescue them when they screamed…he could not reach them and they drowned,” he said.

A man in a canoe came to try and help but could not reach the place the boys had entered the water, said Tselanyane.

Meanwhile police divers were called and they searched for the bodies. The body of one boy was recovered at just after 17:00 and the second was recovered eight minutes later, he said.

They were both certified dead on the scene.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

- SAPA

A man believed to be on his early 40′s has drowned on Glen Beach near Camps Bay this morning.

ER24 paramedics were called by Camps Bay Community Medical for a man who had just being pulled out of the ocean by life guards. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found the life guards and members of public doing CPR. Advanced Life Support intervention had to be performed on the patient. Unfortunately after a long battle to save the mans life, he was declared deceased on the scene.

It is believed that the man was swimming with his children when they got into difficulty. He was able to get them safe but he was able to do the same. ER24 paramedics called in trauma councillors to help give support to the family.

Derrick Banks, ER24