Waterwise, the educational arm of the NSRI has issued an appeal to parents to be particularly vigilant over the Easter weekend.
NSR marketing manager, Andrew Ingram, says the long term weather prediction for most of the country during the weekend is for rain.
He says as such Waterwise is cautioning children against swimming in dams, lagoons and especially rivers where the water may rise fast because of upstream rain.
Ingram says crossing rivers and streams following rain is extremely dangerous, and as hard as it may be, it is best to wait for the water to subside.
"Crossing rivers and streams following rain is extremely dangerous, and as hard as it may be, it is best to wait for the water to subside.
"This may take time ... but it could also save a life.
"Children should be taught never to dive into water, rather go in feet first, especially when water is not clear and it is hard to tell the depth."
"Unless you are a very strong swimmer and have rescue flotation do not go into the water to "rescue" somebody. This could well land up in trained rescuers needing to help two or more people.
"If you have a flotation board handy you can throw the board into a rip-current and the swimmer in difficulty can try to reach the floatation board as it gets swept out to sea.
"Adults should be aware of where their children are all the time and allow them to only swim at beaches where lifeguards are on duty and only between their red and yellow fags.
"The biggest danger to children at beaches are rip currents and if parents are unable to spot them, the lifesavers will make sure that they are safe so swim within the safe demarcated swimming zones posted by lifeguards at beaches.
"If people are going to the beach, or to sea in a craft, make sure that the correct emergency telephone number for the local Sea Rescue station is programmed into a cell phone. Theses emergency numbers are listed on the Sea Rescue Website: http://www.nsri.org.za/emergency-numbers/
