Cape Town - The Tricia Survé Foundation has partnered with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to teach Newton Primary School children about water safety.
From grade R to Grade 7, the Newton Primary School learners listened with enthusiasm on how they could rescue each other in times of danger.
They were also given demonstrations on how to perform CPR and use items around them in emergencies.
Most of the children said they knew how to swim, but only learned in the farm dams and rivers and some said they usually go to the communal swimming pools.
The focus of the programme, which forms part of the NSRI’s Drowning Prevention Programme, is to teach them throughout South Africa to be safe in and around water, especially those who are most vulnerable - children under 14 years.
Fatima Nitsckie said the foundation aims to uplift the Wellington community.
“We were there with the NSRI to teach the learners about water safety tips especially now that we are approaching the school holidays, the learners will be swimming in the pools, dams and rivers.”
She said Survé attended Newton Primary School many years ago and grew up to be an open water swimmer and completed the swim from Robben Island.
The lesson given by NSRI’s Eoudia Erasmus entailed tips on what to do in an emergency and how to rescue a drowning person.
“We taught them how to survive, how to think twice before they go into the water.
“Tricia came from this area, and I think her heart is here where all the children love to swim. She knows that they are swimming in rivers and dams. The danger is that children are going out to swim without supervision so she understands the need for these children to get education and it’s a privilege for us to hold hands and to come out and reach out to these children who don’t often have access to swimming pools to have this programme and help them to think twice before going into water.”
She said she is going to focus on other schools.
“There is a lot of interest in the programme, the kids were all involved.”
Principal, Jacques Clarke, said he hoped there would be more water safety lessons.
“We really appreciate that both organisations opened their hearts to the school. Kids here are surrounded by dams and rivers and most of the time, they don’t know how to swim.
“I think it was a fruitful event. Most of the communities around don’t have proper facilities.
“And unfortunately most of the parents can’t afford swimming clubs with instructors to teach the kids the proper techniques.”
