MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following the tragic drowning at Boggomsbaai near Mossel Bay last week, Mossel Bay Tourism urges people to be extremely cautious when swimming in the sea.
All coastal areas have rip currents and there are a few guidelines you should take note of before heading for the beach.
Even if there are lifeguards on duty, keep a close eye on your loved ones and have the NSRI contact number at hand: 082 990 5954.
• Never swim alone. Always tell someone if you are going to the beach.
• Hold your child’s hand. Don’t think you can watch them from a safe distance while they play in the water: accidents happen in seconds and by the time you reach them, it might be too late.
• Keep an eye on a fixed point or marker on the beach.
• Make sure your feet can always touch the ground.
• Do not swim in rough water.
• But do not underestimate "calm" seas either. Many drownings happen on days when the water looks calm and harmless.
• Before entering the water, look out for rip currents, preferably from an elevated spot.
Recognise a current:
• Currents are usually discoloured and sandy brown.
• They ripple the surface of the sea.
• They usually start in deep water, where there is little wave activity.
• Look out for water through a surf zone that is a different colour from the surrounding water.
• A break in the incoming pattern of waves.
• Seaweed or debris moving out through the surf zone.
• Isolated turbulent and choppy water in the surf zone.
- Do not panic. Do not try to swim against the current. As hard as it sounds, let the current take you out to sea.
- Tread water by moving your arms and legs in circular movements to stay afloat and keep your lungs gently filled with air to aid in your buoyancy.
- Raise one arm in the air and shout for help to alert people on the shore that you are in trouble.
- The rip-current force dissipates the further out to sea you go, so at your first opportunity, swim parallel to the shorefront until you are free of the rip and then use the incoming waves to aid your progress to get back to shore.
For more information on ocean safety, visit www.scienceofthesurf.com or www.nsri.org.za
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