SALDANHA BAY MUNICIPALITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NSRI: SURVIVAL SWIMMING PROGRAMME HOSTED

Saldanha Bay Municipality in partnership with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) hosted the NSRI’s Survival Swimming Programme at Weskus Skool in Saldanha on Wednesday, 6 December 2023.  This event was a first for the Saldanha Bay municipal area and ideally fits into the Saldanha Bay Safety Initiative’s (SBSI) objective of achieving an overall safer festive season.  Other role players at the event were amongst others the Department of Education, West Coast Medical Rescue, Emergency Medical Rescue (EMR), South African Police Service’s Diving Unit and various Disaster Management volunteers.

The NSRI has embarked on a Survival Swimming Program which is geared at youth and adults in under-resourced areas with the purpose of imparting on valuable life skills which include: skills to self-rescue, peer rescue and move through water for 5m to safety. The programme teaches the very basics of breath-control, orientation, floating, and moving through water. The NSRI instructors are trained individuals that undergo the necessary training and possess of a relevant first-aid certificate and all other clearances required to assist with the facilitation of the programme. The programme was offered free to all invited schools with the goal to reach approximately 120 learners on the day.

Eight local schools participated at the event, namely Panorama Primary, Masiphathisane Primary, St. Andrews Primary, Diazville Primary, Diazville High, Jurie Hayes Primary, Langebaan Primary and Weskus Skool.

Saldanha Bay Municipality, specifically its Corporate and Public Safety Services Directorate, is very pleased with what is believed to become a continuing partnership with the NSRI and other relevant role-players in their efforts to prevent the occurrences of drowning in the area.  This initiative is focussed to instil an attitude of confidence and trust amongst local youth.