The NSRI has just launched its second Survival Swimming Centre in the Eastern Cape.
The Centre has been launched in Tombo Village, 9 kilometres outside of Port St Johns which statistics show has the highest incidents of drownings in the Eastern Cape.
The NSRI says the Eastern Cape is also the second leading province with drowning incidents in the country, which made it crucial that the centre comes here.
Drowning Prevention Manager at the National Sea Rescue Institute, Andrew Ingram, says they have had much success with their first Survival Swimming Centre in the Western Cape.
Read more: NSRI launches first Survival Swimming Centre in Riebeek Kasteel
He says swimming is a life skill and learning to swim at an early age will reduce drowning incidences, especially among children.
Ingram says these lessons will be offered at no cost to the children in and around the village.
The centre will be placed at Noah Christian Academy an independent school in Tombo. This school was identified by our National Water Safety team leader who works in the area.
Click here to see the wonderful photos of the swimming container.
Nwabisa Vera Nkata, Principal at Noah Christian Academy says that they are extremely excited to be the first school in the Eastern Cape to receive the SSC.
Considering that swimming lessons are only afforded by wealthy families, having this centre will be so special for our kids and the community at large. We stay in a village that is close to the Umzimvubu river and the coast where young and old people drown, so equipping our learners with swimming lessons will be a huge advantage.
The centre is built in a twelve-metre shipping container which features a six-meter-long swimming pool, an office space for the instructor and a change room for the students.
In addition to some of the safety features, the pool is one metre deep allowing small children to stand in it.
Being a shipping container means that the pool can be completely locked up when not in use to ensure there is no danger of anyone entering the pool while instructors are not on duty.
The wait is finally over for the community of #TomboVillage, 19km outside of #PortStJohns. This is where we are launching our 2nd Survival Swimming Centre (SSC 2), after the success of our 1st one in the WC
Proudly sponsored by @speedo @SpeedoSA pic.twitter.com/O0AT3V6pDf
— National Sea Rescue Institute (@NSRI) August 26, 2022
The rollout of the swimming lessons will start off with teaching the Grade 7’s who will be able to take their swimming skills with them to high school.
This will be followed by interested school teachers and they will be led by the school principal.
Ingram explains that by targeting teachers as well means they will eventually become survival swimming instructors.
The set of skills of becoming a Survival Swimming Instructor is something that we will be leaving the teachers with for the benefit of not only the school but the community as a whole.
The fundamental lessons that will be covered during the swimming lessons include how to hold your breath under water, opening your eyes whilst under water, how to float and to safely propel yourself for at least 5 metres in water.
Our Survival Swimming Programme teaches kids and adults the basic skills to stay afloat should they find themselves in difficulty in the water. You can become a Volunteer Instructor. Visit us at the Sea Point Pavillion Sat 17 Sept, 9am-12pm or email seapointss@searescue.org.za. pic.twitter.com/ryFbo3m5hz
— National Sea Rescue Institute (@NSRI) September 1, 2022
