The WaterWise Academy is the educational initiative of the National Sea Rescue Institute, with a vision to proactively prevent drowning tragedies. Our primary focus is on children from underprivileged communities, as they are most at risk of drowning. Even competent swimmers can drown so, instead of teaching children to swim, we teach them how to be safe in and near water and how to rescue their peers.
Our aim is to make youngsters aware of the dangers around water, to give them hands-on practical experience of how to act in an emergency, who to call for help and what to do while they wait for help to arrive.
If teens are empowered with the valuable life skill of basic bystander CPR, fewer water related incidents would result in fatal drownings. We fit our lesson into a school period and the children are taught in their classroom where they are safe and in a frame of mind to learn.
The WaterWise Academy is proudly sponsored by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).
We currently have twelve full time Instructors and nine volunteers in the Academy. Since 2006 we have educated more than 620 000 children in water safety, teaching them how to avoid danger, what to do in an emergency, who to call for help, and how to start hands-on CPR while they wait for help to arrive.
We have reached:
Summary of above
- 6 500 children in 2006
- 15 500 children in 2007
- 39 900 children in 2008
- 26 817 children in 2009
- 36 971 children in 2010
- 50 477 children in 2011
- 72 111 children in 2012
- 125 707 children in 2013
- 165 631 children in 2014
Our WaterWise Academy has trained 620 048 children about water safety and how to do basic CPR since inception of the project in 2006 to 31 December 2014.
|
On Duty
24
Hours a Day
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60 000
faithful donors
|
35
rescue bases
|
|
|
47 years
of proud traditions
|
Average lifespan
of a rescue boat
11 years
|
12 years
averange length of
service
|
Less Than
10%
from state funds
|
|
Annual running costs are
R52.5 million
It would cost an additional
R250 million
if we had to pay salaries
|
|
900
unpaid volunteers
|
You can become an official shore crew member!
As a regular supporter of the National Sea Rescue Institute, you will not only help save many lives, you will also stand 5 chances of winning R10 000 every month! And you can achieve all this with a minimum monthly donation of only R25 (per entry) - not bad for such a small investment!
Because the NSRI is a non-profit organisation, we rely solely on the generosity of caring people like you to finance our lifesaving operations. The free services of volunteers enable us to provide help and safety where it is needed and donations take care of craft maintenance and fuel costs. Which means that every contribution you make goes directly towards our rescue missions.
What's more, because your support is so valuable to us, you will also stand a chance of winning R100 000 in our annual draw! So, apart from the fact that you will help us keep our South African waters safe, you will also be entitled to an automatic entry into all monthly NSRI competitions for the duration of your membership.
One of our marketers will contact you shortly, to discuss any questions you may have. And once we receive payment details, we will send you your official shore crew certificate to confirm your participation. Thereafter you will also receive a monthly e-mail to announce the name of our latest winners.
We are looking forward to working with you. So let's get ready to save a few lives, shall we?
Also View:
Swimming Safely and Advice to Prevent Drowning