Green Corridors Water Safety Awareness for Community and Guides Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day 

Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day (25 July) Green Corridors requested the support and advice from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and Metro Police Search & Rescue, as a proactive effort to educate and empower tourism guides who have sites on water bodies, and work within communities with little or no access to emergency services.

Tragedies are unfortunately not uncommon in the areas where there is water, and it was with much appreciation that Siya Mthethwa, Drowning Prevention Coordinator at the NSRI, Brendan Latchmiah, Drowning Prevention Instructor, Warrant Officer Lee Bryant of Durban Metro Search and Rescue, assisted by Disaster Management Technician intern Jonty Hardcastle who is doing honours in disaster management, came the eNanda Adventures on Inanda Dam site to give valuable insights to Green Corridors guides who operate in and around the Valley of 1000 Hills.

Children enrolled in the GO!Durban Cycle Academy programme as well as children from the community who were enjoying their school holidays joined Green Corridors guides Mlu Mthembu (Amatata Adventures), Sibusiso Shangase (Mqeku Camp), and Gabi Ngcobo (eNanda Adventure Park)  for this session.

Under the dappled shade of the eNanda Adventure Park campsite trees, the experts explained their roles in assisting communities and gave practical advice and demonstrations to children and adults alike. This included drumming home emergency numbers (112 and 10111) to call and, recognising that emergency services may take some time to reach remote areas, or that phones or phone signal may be in short supply, immediate steps to prevent drowning, and for resuscitation of unconscious persons. 

The attendees were shown how to check for a pulse, apply CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), how to approach (or not approach) a drowning person, and the use of flotation devices, such as a torpedo buoy. Possibly the most practical advice was to have a tightly sealed 5 litre plastic container with a length of rope attached at hand when near bodies of water. Throwing that to a drowning person will provide sufficient ballast to keep them afloat while they are reeled in.

The lessons were warmly received and the guides and managers are happy to be able to ensure safety measures at Green Corridors sites for tourists who visit for canoeing and other water based activities.

These include:

• eNanda Adventures on the shores of Inanda Dam. It’s perfect for a day out, weekend camping or your next event, being well equipped for canoeists, fisherfolk, trail runners- and a must for mountain bike trails.
• iSithumba Adventure Camp in a small village in the spectacular Valley of 1000 hills. At this multi-purpose river-facing property you can immerse yourself in an authentic Zulu experience. It includes a large meeting room, dining room, breakaway rooms, outdoor areas, space for camping, and residential rondavels. Local tour operator, iSithumba Travels, also offer a range of outdoor culture and adventure activities which are perfect for team building exercises and group outings.
• Mqeku Picnic Site- a simply amazing spot on the confluence of the uMngeni and Mqueku Rivers about 20 minutes from Hillcrest. Activities include camping, picnic sites, bird watching, 4x4 trails as well as excellent hiking trails and the famous Mqeku Bum Slide. 
• Matata Adventures. On the mountains overlooking Durban, Matata is arguably one of the most scenically beautiful locations in Durban. Explore a network of hiking trails, forests, waterfalls. Matata Adventures also offers educational excursions and breathtaking camping sites.
• Overock and Lower Molweni, just a short hop down into the valley from the Hillcrest area is the magnificent Lower Molweni, a hiker’s, birder’s and nature lover’s paradise. A community developed network of nature trails takes hikers through the spectacular rugged cliffs, waterfalls and forests of the area. Higher up the valley in Overock, explore a network of adrenalin pumping walkways along the cliff faces where tourists can be at one with nature and learn more about Rastafarian culture.

For more information visit https://greencorridors.org/

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Call 069 823 0559 

Caption to photo:

Photo captions: 1 Back- Brendan Latchmiah, NSRI Drowning Prevention Instructor; Warrant Officer Lee Bryant, Durban Metro Search and Rescue; Siya Mthethwa, NSRI Drowning Prevention Coordinator. Front- Bandile Ngcobo, Zimbali Ndimande at Green Corridors eNanda Adventures site.