Unfortunately people regularly swim where there are no Lifeguards on duty. This may be after the Lifeguard’s duty has finished or at a beach that does not have Lifeguards.

                                     

                                     It would be wise to choose a beach that has Lifeguards on duty and to swim between their flags. That way you don’t need to worry about rip currents, or suddenly getting into a distressed situation. Putting an arm                                       in the air and waving for help will get a rapid response from the Lifeguards on duty.

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In a typical scenario Sea Rescue receives an emergency call for a swimmer in difficulty and upon arrival find two or more people in danger of drowning. Tragically, the Sea Rescue are not always able to get there in time before someone drowns. Usually the person who does not survive is the kind person who went into the water to try and help a person in difficulty.

Because this happens so frequently, the National Sea Rescue launched their Pink Rescue Buoy project in November 2017.

 

These bright Pink Rescue Buoys, which conform to the AUNZ standard of 100 Newtons of flotation, are hung on strategically placed signs with the hope that they will encourage bathers to take care when entering water, and not to swim if Lifeguards are not on duty.

There are clear graphics on the sign which explain how to use the Buoy. And most importantly, the emergency number for the closest Sea Rescue station is printed on the sign.

These buoys can be thrown to a person in distress in the water to provide emergency flotation.

 

If anyone decides, against sound advice, to enter the water the Pink Rescue Buoy will provide flotation for that person as well as for the person in distress.

 

More than 600 Pink Rescue Buoys have been installed and since November 2017,  57 people have been assisted using a Pink Buoy, something to be proud of.

 

The Pink Rescue Buoy should remain on its pole unless it is being used in a rescue. If you see someone with a Pink Rescue Buoy, and they are not a Sea Rescue volunteer who is in uniform, the Pink Buoy is probably stolen. Please report them to us on 0870949774 or pinkrescuebuoys@searescue.org.za