Water safety initiative launched in Port Alfred
Survival Swimming teaches basic skills
After its successful launch in Kenton-on-Sea on November 11, the NSRI’s Survival Swimming programme was launched on November 18 in Port Alfred.
Welcoming the young participants on the banks of the Kowie River was NSRI supporter, Multi Security’s Clinton Millard.
Millard said that after the tragic drowning of four children at Kenton’s Middle Beach on New Year’s Day this year, the NSRI had decided to start the organisation’s Survival Swimming programme in Ndlambe. The Kentonon-Sea launch had been at the Kariega River two weeks earlier.
Millard thanked Carol Baker-Mewse for starting the programme in Kenton; Carey Webster for volunteering to start a similar programme in Port Alfred; and the NSRI for their support in getting the programme going locally, as well as their donation of two more pink buoys.
“We need more pink buoys, especially along the river, so anyone who would like to donate one, please contact the NSRI,” Millard said.
The focus of the programme is not to learn how to swim, but to equip children and adults with the basic skills they need to stay safe in the water: breathing control, orientation, floating and moving through water, Millard emphasised.
Millard said it was hoped that the
programme would continue through the season, and would continue to grow.
“Thanks must go to the volunteers who have been trained over the past two months: without them, this worthwhile initiative would not have been possible.”
Okkie Goosen from BUCO was thanked for donating the equipment to demarcate the swimming area.
Sunshine Life Centre and Nemato Change a Life were thanked for bringing the children to participate..