As the temperature rises across Central South Africa in the run-up to summer, so does the danger of drowning as children seek relief from the heat in dams, rivers, and pools.

Adult supervision is always advised when children are near any bodies of water. World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that worldwide more than 300,000 people drowned in 2021, making such deaths a major public health problem globally.

A four-year-old from Potchefstroom died on Friday, 27 September, a little more than two weeks after she was hospitalised following a near-drowning incident in a swimming school.

Chaka's fellow learners said goodbye to her at the daycare centre. Photo: Facebook/Silvia’s Ark Daycare

“On Thursday we came together to say goodbye to a beloved member of our Silvia’s Ark family, Sisiphosethu Chaka,” said Potchefstroom Silvia Da Silva, principal of the daycare centre, in a Facebook post.

The following day they held a “heartfelt farewell in her honour, cherishing the beautiful moments we shared. Sisiphosethu will be deeply missed, but her spirit will always remain with us.”

In a statement, her bereaved father Xolile Chaka said: “It is with a great sense of sadness that as parents of Sisiphosethu Chaka confirm the passing away of our daughter.” He thanked everyone for their well wishes and prayers on behalf of little Sisiphosethu’s family.

“As summer is approaching, it is vital for parents to keep a close eye on children when they are in the pool or even in rivers and dams,” said Splash Swimming School swimming instructor Shireen du Plessis.

“When swimming at home this summer, parents must try to get swimming costumes for their children that are very bright for example pink, yellow, and red. Try to stay away from green and blue as you can’t see these colours clearly underwater.”

Drowning is nothing like in the movies: it’s actually very quiet and happens fast. If you find yourself in a situation where you get a child drowning out of the water, put them on their back and start CPR immediately, and don’t stop until further assistance or an ambulance arrives, she said.

Water safety tips sent out by the police. Photo supplied

Netcare 911 has shared these water safety tips to keep children safe around a pool:

• Never leave children unsupervised around swimming pools, garden ponds, water features, and buckets of water.
• Restrict access to swimming pools by installing a pool fence with a self-latching mechanism, or a safety net.
• Teach children how to swim from as early as twelve months.
• Don’t allow children to push each other into the pool, run around it, or hold each other underwater.
• Empty all water from a wading pool when not in use.
• Children should be trained in survival skills such as floating and treading water.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh