With Cape Town's beaches and pools in use year-round, these five tips could genuinely save your child's life.
Cape Town is a water city. We have beaches, pools, dams, rivers, and a culture built around the ocean. For families, that's a gift — and a responsibility. Every year, preventable drownings happen across the Western Cape, and the majority involve children under 10.
At Anax Swim Academy, water safety isn't a topic we address once a year — it's woven into every class we teach. Here are five tips that could genuinely save your child's life.
1. Never Leave Children Unattended Near Water — Not Even for a Minute
Drowning is silent and fast. Unlike what you see in movies, a drowning child doesn't wave or call out — they go under quietly. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a text message.
At any pool, beach, or dam, designate one adult as the 'water watcher' — their only job is to watch the children. No phones. No conversations. Eyes on the water.
At pool parties, rotate the water watcher role every 15 minutes so no one loses focus. Use a physical handover — pass a cap or armband — so there's no confusion about who's watching.
2. Learn to Recognise Drowning — It Looks Nothing Like You Expect
The 'instinctive drowning response' is quiet and brief. A child in distress will be upright in the water, head tilted back, mouth at water level. They won't be able to call for help because they're using all their energy to keep their face above water.
- Head low in the water, mouth at or below the water line
- Eyes glassy or closed — unable to focus
- Legs not kicking — vertical body position
- Hair covering their face
- Trying to swim but not making progress
If you see any of these signs, act immediately. Don't wait to find out if they're playing.
3. Teach Children to Ask Permission Before Entering Any Water
This single rule has saved countless lives. Make it absolute — no exceptions. Your child must ask a responsible adult before entering any body of water, including a paddling pool, a dam at a braai, or a friend's pool.
The habit needs to be built before they're in a situation where impulse takes over. Practice it. Role-play it. Make it as automatic as looking both ways before crossing a road.
4. Learn CPR — and Refresh It Every Two Years
CPR knowledge fades quickly. The guidelines also update periodically. If you learned CPR at a work course five years ago, your technique may not be current.
For children, early CPR while waiting for EMS dramatically increases survival rates. Look for a certified Heartstart or St John's Ambulance course — most run over a weekend and cost very little. All Anax Swim Academy coaches are CPR-certified and trained in water rescue.
5. Enroll Children in Structured Swim Lessons — the Earlier, the Better
Swimming ability is the single most effective protection against drowning. Children who receive structured swimming instruction starting before age 4 have significantly lower drowning risk.
The goal isn't to produce Olympic swimmers — it's to ensure that if a child falls into water, they have the instincts and skills to survive: roll onto their back, float, call for help, and swim to safety.
Our Little Splashers program starts from 18 months, introducing water confidence in a warm, supportive environment. By age 5, most of our swimmers can float independently and have genuine survival skills.
The Bottom Line
Water safety is not about fear — it's about preparation. Cape Town's relationship with water is one of the best things about living here. With the right knowledge and habits, you can give your children that same freedom safely.