NSRI
The National Sea Rescue Institute said it was ready for the 2020 festive season with beaches and inland waterways expected to be busy.
Spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, said they have close to 1500 volunteers at 43 coastal and inland NSRI rescue stations, on duty 24 hours a day.
“We are ready to respond to emergencies, but we are appealing to the public to have a safety-conscious mindset in and around water,” he said.
“NSRI, lifeguards and the emergency services have world-class systems in place to respond to water-related emergencies. We believe that the systems in place are amongst the best in the world,” Lambinon said.
He said the key in these situations is to get a floating object to those in difficulty as fast as possible.
“If that means a lifeguard physically swimming out to help a person in distress, a rescue craft arriving on the scene, a helicopter deploying a rescue swimmer to assist the person/s in difficulty or a member of the public throwing one of the NSRI pink rescue buoys to persons in distress, the effort is to get help to those in difficulty quickly.”
Lambinon said it was for this reason that they have the NSRI pink rescue buoys strategically stationed around the coastline and on inland waters.
“We are appealing to Bathers to only swim at beaches that are protected by lifeguards,” he said.
The NSRI offered the following safety tips:
*When you arrive at the beach point out to all of your family members and friends where the lifeguards are on the beach. Approach the lifeguards if you need help or if you are separated from your family.
*Don’t get out of your depth when you go swimming.
*Swimming pools should have fail-safe child-proof protection.
*Always make sure you have a dedicated responsible adult watching over children when they are in the water swimming or around water.
*Boaters and paddlers should ensure that when your craft is underway everyone on board should be wearing properly fitting life jackets.
*Don’t drink alcohol when you go boating or swimming.
