Drowning and holiday travel safety

With the holiday period just around the corner, many families will be embarking on their annual trip to their favourite holiday destination. By ensuring you are adequately prepared, you will enjoy a relaxing and enjoyable holiday!

As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to provide you with some holiday safety tips, keeping you safe on the road and making this festive season a pleasant one for you and your family!

The year-end holiday season goes hand in hand with functions and celebrations, visits to family and friends and the inevitable mass exodus to our country's many beautiful beaches. 

No matter where you and your loved ones decide to spend the coming holidays, chances are that you will be travelling by road. Road accidents are by far the biggest cause of traumatic injuries sustained by South Africans. During the festive season these figures are known to show a rapid increase. 

The Road Safety Foundation adds that a staggering percentage of road deaths are attributed to pedestrians while an equally high percentage of fatalities are caused as a result of drinking and driving.  Driver fatigue plays a major role in the exceptionally high death rate on South Africa's roads year after year.

Every holiday season road safety campaigns, such as Arrive Alive, keep reminding us about the rules of the road. Yet every year the death toll on our roads remains high. Just as alarming are the drowning and near drowning figures reported by the coastal authorities during the period.

Many drivers never consider the importance of being in a good mental and physical condition when embarking on a road trip. Just as important is the planning that goes into that trip before you switch on the engine.  Drivers need to ensure that they are rested and alert, that their vehicle is roadworthy and, if possible, be knowledgeable about the route that they are going to take. Getting lost or disorientated, especially when tired, can cause a driver to become distracted and have an accident.

Some of the basic safety tips all road users should adhere to, are:

• Always ‘buckle up'
• Get an adequate amount of quality sleep before setting off on your journey
• Avoid alcoholic beverages and heavy foods
• If you are taking any medications, make sure that they won't impair your driving ability
• Stop and take a break from driving at least every two hours
• If you are feeling really tired, stop at a safe place and take a nap - wait for at least ten minutes before getting back in the car as you need to ensure that you are properly awake
• Stop over somewhere for the night if your journey is going to take a number of hours
• If possible, drive with a companion and switch driving when you start to feel tired
• Talk with passengers to help you stay alert, although not to the extent that you become distracted
• Keep the temperature in your car cool as a warmer environment encourages lethargy
• Make a point of checking blind spots and ‘reading' the road and traffic conditions - don't just keep your eye on the vehicle ahead of you.

In the event of a drowning, the following assisting steps are recommended:

• Prevention is, obviously, far better than trying to cure - especially when it comes to drowning cases. Having multiple layers of safety around pool and spa areas or other open bodies of water (such as a safety net, a closed fence, a childminder and a surface alarm) can prevent tragic accidents.
• Get the victim out of the water as soon as possible, but do not become a victim yourself. Make sure it is safe for you to enter the water first.
• Handle the victim with care. Many submersion incidents are associated with neck injuries, so keep movement to the back and neck to a minimum.
• Assess to see if the victim is awake or not.
• Check for breathing. If the victim is not breathing, administer two slow rescue breaths ensuring that the victim's chest JUST starts to rise.
• If the victim shows no response to the rescue breaths, start CPR.
• CPR is vital, even if it is an amateur administering it. Keep on doing it until someone who is trained in advanced life support arrives and can take over. All parents should learn how to administer child CPR as it does differ from adult CPR. There has also recently been a worldwide revision in the CPR technique and it is vital that even current first aiders be retrained according to the new protocols.
• Call, or have someone call, a recognised ambulance service as early as possible during this sequence. Whoever calls for the ambulance must give the dispatcher an accurate location of the incident and a contact number at the scene. Never hang up on the operator and always return to the rescuer to inform them that you have called for help.

ADDITIONAL ROAD SAFETY PRECAUTION MEASURES FOR DRIVERS (from www.arrivealive.co.za)

Before leaving...
 

• Work or virtually any other form of activity increases the likelihood of fatigue.
• Start any trip by getting enough sleep the night before - at least six hours is recommended.
• Emotional stress or illness can also cause fatigue.
• Plan your route, refueling, rests and overnight stops.
• Check your car's roadworthiness. Headlights, indicators, stop lights, tail-lights, windscreen wiper blades, mirrors, brakes, steering, tyres, tyre pressures, exhaust system and possible oil or fuel leaks.
• Check coolant, fluids and oil levels.
• Check that the spare wheel is in good condition and properly inflated. Make sure that you have a serviceable jack and wheel brace.
• Ensure any luggage or cargo is put in the boot or secured in the vehicle.
• Never transport flammable liquid in the vehicle. Plan your refueling stops.

While travelling...

• Take a 15-minute break at least every two hours.
• Prevent sun glare and eye fatigue by wearing good quality sunglasses.
• Avoid eating heavy foods.
• Do not consume any alcohol during your trip.
• An overheated or very cold vehicle can compound the fatigue effects.
• If you can, have another person ride with you, so you will have someone to talk to and who can share the driving.
• Make sure that you rest when you are not driving.
• Avoid driving during your body's downtime (1am - 5am).
• Boredom can also cause fatigue. Music /radio/conversation is helpful.
• Always wear your seat belts.
• Keep a safe distance behind the car in front of you.
• Drive according to the road conditions.
• Reduce speed when it is raining or the road is wet.
• Adhere to speed limits.
• Use low beam headlights (never drive with parking lights) between sunset and sunrise as well as in overcast or misty weather conditions.
• Look out for these signs when you are driving:
• you keep yawning
• your reactions slow down
• you feel stiff your eyes feel heavy
• you find you are day dreaming
• you wander over the centre line or on to the edge of the road
• should you notice any of these danger signs, stop for a rest. If needed, a quick nap - even 20 minutes will help. During your break, get some exercise - it helps you become more alert quickly.

Rest stop precautions...

• If it is after dark or you need to stop, find a lighted safe roadside rest area to park.
• Give yourself a little outside air, but make sure that windows are closed enough to prevent entry from the outside.
• Lock all doors.
• Turn on your parking lights and turn off other electrical equipment.
• After you rest, get out of the vehicle and walk for a few minutes to be sure you are completely awake before you begin to drive again.

When parked...
 

• Keep your car locked when unattended.
• Don't leave valuables inside the car where they can be seen by passers-by. Lock such items in the boot.
• Be especially careful when loading or unloading the boot that keys are not locked inside the car.

If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any healthcare questions you may have, you can phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your health and well-being.