World Drowning Prevention Day was established by the UN on July 25th, and 2022 will mark the second year of the global awareness campaign.
The Recreation and Parks Department of the City of Cape Town is advocating more citizen watchfulness near bodies of water.
2022 HAS SO FAR SEEN 19 DRINKS
Patricia van der Ross, a MayCo Member for Community Services and Health, reported that, since 2019, there have been 56 drownings at public swimming pools and beaches during the busiest summer months in the City of Cape Town.
“There were 19 drownings so far this year, with 13 in 2019, nine in 2020, 15 in 2021, and nine in 2019.
Given the numerous awareness drives and campaigns the City has launched to stop these occurrences, the incidence of tragic drownings is depressing, according to van der Ross.
The World Health Organization estimates that 236 000 people drown each year in all of the world’s oceans (WHO).
It ranks among the top 10 killers of children and young people between the ages of one and 24.
HOTSPOT SURFING
The majority of drownings in the Western Cape happen in the spring and summer, and almost half of these fatalities take place on weekends and public holidays.
The majority of drownings during the warmer months take place about 15:00.
86 percent of all drownings over the preceding three years included men, and 60 percent of fatalities occurred in people between the ages of 13 and 35.
Twelve senior beach lifeguards who work full-time for the City of Cape Town are in charge of clusters of up to 600 seasonal guards who monitor city pools and beaches from October to April.
The three primary bodies of water in the province—harbours and tidal pools (27,1 percent), ponds, dams and lakes (25,9 percent), and rivers and canals—are where the majority of fatal drownings take place (22,9 percent ).
At 12,4%, swimming pools are the fourth most common location for a fatal drowning to occur.
Eight beaches are declared drowning hotspots by the City of Cape Town, and swimming is risky there.
The beaches consist of:
Between the first and third beaches in Clifton, Table View Milnerton Lagoon Beach Sea Point Glen Beach Strand Deep Blue and Jetty Wolfgat Nature Reserve Kogel Bay Dappat se Gat
“Beachgoers are urged to only swim in areas with lifeguards and where it is safe to do so according to the signs.
If there are no lifeguards on duty, do not swim.
The City of Cape Town advised parents to watch their kids around water and to dress them in bright clothing so that lifeguards can spot them in the water.