Very rough seas with wave heights between 4-6m are expected to develop south of Lamberts Bay during Tuesday 14 August 2012 and spreading to Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay overnight Tuesday.
The National Sea Rescue’s WaterWise Academy encourages parents to know where their children are at all times.
With the predicted rain, children should be told not to play near rivers and dams that may already be swollen and puddles of water where the depth cannot be judged. There water levels may quickly rise further, without warning.
It is wise not to try and cross rivers that are in flood, rather wait for the water to subside. If there is any doubt about the safety of a situation rather be cautious and turn back.
With the predicted front arriving the sea will become rougher. Big waves could catch children who are playing on the beach or rocks by surprise.
Children should be taught not to turn their backs on the sea and never to go down to the beach alone. Always look carefully at the beach, and especially the rocks, that you intend to go to. If the tide is coming in, the waves will come further onto the shore and could cut children off from the mainland or could wash them into the sea.
IN AN EMERGENCY:
- Everyone living along the coast or visiting the coast should find out what their nearest Sea Rescue emergency telephone number is.
- To find out what your nearest sea rescue emergency number is go to www.searescue.org.za
- A very important emergency phone number to store in your phone is 10177
- 10177 is the national emergency ambulance and rescue contact number and should only be used to report a real emergency. It can be called from a cell phone or landline.
- An emergency number that is a free call from a cell phone is 112.
The NSRI WaterWise Academy’s primary focus is on children between the ages of 9 and 14 from underprivileged communities, as they are most at risk of drowning by making youngsters aware of the dangers around water and to give them hands-on practical experience on how to act in an emergency, who to call for help and what to do while they wait for help to arrive.
