NSRI launches anti-drowning campaign
The National Sea Rescue Institute has launched a new lifesaving campaign in an effort to curb drowning incidents along the country’s coast.
The new NSRI emergency flotation campaign will use pink torpedo floats at high risk beaches where there are strong rip currents and no lifeguards.
The buoys can be thrown to a person in difficulty and used as a flotation device in the surf until professional help arrives.
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The NSRI’s National Drowning Prevention manager, Andrew Ingram says the initiative aims to avoid danger to bathers and bystanders who try to swim out to them and assist.
"One of the very difficult things with helping people in rip currents is the time people go into the water to help - that person who wants to be a rescuer isn't trained and then drowns.
"So that's the cornerstone of this campaign is that people should not go into the water unless their trained rescuers. Throw the torpedo buoy in and call for help," he says.