NSRI, LSA link to boost beach safety

THE NSRI has affiliated with Lifesaving South Africa (LSA), enabling sea rescue volunteers to train as lifeguards within sea rescue, the NSRI said.

NSRI volunteers had been responding to an increasing number of people in difficulty close to the shore – predominantly people caught in rip currents on beaches with no lifeguards, it said in a statement.

“Sea rescue crews have modified their method of responding to these emergencies. The interventions include a change in the type of craft that we use, innovations in the training of our crews, and a concerted effort in building relationships with other organisations in the interest of drowning prevention.”

With this in mind, sea rescue had affiliated with LSA, enabling sea rescue volunteers to train as lifeguards within sea rescue. Both organisations would work together on a national and a local level, focusing on education, drowning prevention, and rescue.

Leading the way in this initiative was NSRI Station 18 Melkbosstrand, which had formed a lifesaving unit within the structure of the sea rescue station. The NSRI Melkbosstrand lifeguards would do beach duty on Melkbosstrand beach as NSRI lifeguard volunteers from November 1.

“It is a natural progression for sea rescue to get involved with lifeguarding – we already respond regularly to drowning in progress emergencies, often working closely with club and professional lifeguards,” said NSRI chief executive Cleeve Robertson.

“This step of training some of our NSRI volunteers to be lifeguards, and giving them the opportunity to get the internationally recognised lifeguard award, will allow us to improve and expand our rescue capability.

“NSRI lifeguards will do voluntary duty at designated beaches, and as long as the public choose to swim at a beach that has lifeguards on duty and swim between the flags, lifeguards will be able to offer them a safe beach experience,” Robertson said.

“Research has shown that most beach drownings occur at beaches which are not patrolled by lifeguards or outside patrol hours. It is therefore important that people only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty.

“Lifesaving South Africa’s clubs currently patrol 60 beaches along the coast and it is great to have the NSRI as a member, as it means we can increase the number of beaches patrolled by lifeguards,” LSA president Dylan Tommy said. – ANA

PICTURE: NSRI MELKBOSSTRAND VOLUNTEERS: Back row, from left: NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander Rhine Barnes, Brandon Thiart, Stewart Seini, Kiara Beuster, Gregory van den Berg, Blake Pittaway, Dehann Theron and NSRI operations manager Brett Ayres. Front row, from left:...