October 31, 2006
By Tabisa Mntengwana
THE City's rescue workers are gearing themselves for a busy period as the summer rains and scorching sun take their toll.
The soaring temperatures and rainy weather also herald life-threatening dangers to Joburg residents.
During the media launch of its Summer Safety Campaign at Florida Lake on 31 October, the City's Emergency Management Services (EMS) put on a colourful display of its rescue capabilities.
The campaign is aimed at educating people about the dangers of water and the heat. Dangers from the sun include sunstroke, skin cancer and heat exhaustion, while dangers posed by the rain include lightning and thunderstorms, storm water drains and drowning.
To appeal to children, the campaign draws on the orange superhero called Papa Q. The cartoon character will feature prominently throughout the campaign. From November, EMS and Papa Q will host a holiday programme visiting shopping malls, swimming pools and people's centres across the city.
According to Malcolm Midgely spokesperson for EMS, last year emergency services responded to 15 water incidents, including children drowning, cars swept off flooded bridges, and homeless people caught in storm water drains.
"It is important for Joburgers to learn more about being safe in the water this summer, since Joburg encounters a higher rate of water incidents than any other city in the country," said Midgely.
The campaign is part of the City's awareness campaign Qaphela - meaning Be Careful, which the City hosts twice a year - before summer and before winter.
"The campaign is aimed at school children from the ages of six to 11 and their parents. It will run from early November until mid January," said Bev Swartz brand manager for the City.
Using inflatable canoes, the rescue team took the media crew on a spin around the lake at the same time relating incidents that happened previously in various dams and lakes in the City.
The day started at 10am with a demonstration of how rescue divers and swimmers going under water to display how they save drowning people.
The campaign will also be promoted through billboards on main roads, radio adverts, and colouring competitions in stores.
"This will help kids to learn more about the season dangers and play at the same time," said Swartz.
Midgely also advised Joburgers to supervise children all the time near the water. " Parents should be careful when going out to lakes and dams with children."
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