Page 42 - Waterfall City Dec 2024_Jan 2025

Waterfall City Health

PROTECTING LIVES

Drowning prevention tips and lifesaving tools

“D rownings can happen • At the beach, only swim in designated CPR: Hands-only technique
prevent children from accidentally
falling into the water.
at any time of year,
Commence hands-on CPR if the child
but in South Africa,
is not showing signs of life. Place
we see a marked
far out.
to the child, place one hand in the
increase during the warmer months,” areas with lifeguards and don’t swim them on a firm, flat surface, kneel next
says Netcare 911 spokesperson Russel • Remember, swimming in the sea centre of the chest and begin chest
Meiring. “As summer draws near, it is very different to swimming in a compressions. This should be done
is crucial to remember that the risk pool or dam, even for experienced hard and fast. Continue hands-only CPR
of drowning tragically increases swimmers. until help arrives or the child becomes
with hot weather, and drowning • Only dive into a body of water if you responsive or shows signs of life, such
can occur anywhere. Constantly can see what is below the surface, and as breathing or coughing.
assessing potential risks around always be sure to test the depth first.
water, particularly where children are CPR: Mouth-to-mouth is
concerned, is therefore essential.” Immediate actions when a no longer the only way to
child falls into the water administer CPR
According to Meiring, the battle Meiring says the first step is to get the Netcare 911’s digitally enabled life-saving
against drowning in South Africa is child out of the water safely, using a service puts callers phoning from the
multifaceted, requiring a combination suitable flotation device if necessary. scene of a medical emergency face-to-
of education, technology and “Perform a quick survey to check if face with trained Netcare 911 emergency
community engagement. “By taking the child is responsive and if they are healthcare providers to demonstrate and
proactive measures and fostering a breathing. If the child is breathing, guide them through the CPR technique
culture of water safety, we can turn the place them on their side and call until paramedics arrive.
tide on this preventable tragedy,” he Netcare 911 on 082 911 or utilise
adds. the Netcare Application (App) for “Few people are aware that CPR
assistance. does not require mouth-to-mouth
Water safety tips resuscitation, as recent findings show
• Never swim alone. “The emergency call and geolocation ‘hands only’ CPR can be as effective
• Never swim in the sea, dams or rivers functions on the Netcare App assist in as the traditional technique involving
at night. minimising response times by ensuring giving the patient rescue breaths,”
• Avoid swimming while under we have your precise location so the says Shalen Ramduth, Netcare 911’s
the influence of alcohol or other emergency vehicle can find you – even operations director.
intoxicants. in remote areas or if the caller doesn’t
• When near water, children must know the address. The Netcare App The American Heart Association
always be supervised by a responsible also includes a Netcare 911 60-second now recommends that members of
adult who is not distracted. callback option and provides detailed the public perform ‘hands only’ CPR
• Ensure that small children do not have resource tracking, allowing the user to using chest compressions alone if an
access to pools, ponds, water features, follow the ambulance and/or response adult collapses and they are not in a
baths, buckets of water or open toilets vehicles’ route. healthcare setting.
– young children can drown in as little
as 4cm of water. “If the child is unresponsive and Empowering lifesaving skills
• Ensure that your swimming pool is not breathing, cardiopulmonary through telehealth
covered with a pool net or enclosed resuscitation (CPR) must be performed,” “Even if you have never done CPR
with an SABS-approved fence to he adds. before, Netcare 911’s national

40 Waterfall City Issue 12 2024/Issue 1 2025