Lifeguard company launches safety campaign at the coast

THE Monarch Lifeguard and Emergency Services company launched a water safety awareness campaign for pupils at Walvis Bay on Tuesday.

The owner of the company, Martin Muyenga, told The Namibian that they are tageting eight schools at the coastal town this year before embarking on a nationwide campaign, especially in flood-prone areas.

During the campaign launch at Tutaleni Primary School, the school was tasked to select two best-performing pupils to be trained as lifeguards.

The selected pupils will each receive a life jacket and inflatable pool rings worth N$1 000.

They will undergo training in August free of charge. The training normally costs N$5 600.

After completion of the training, pupils will receive certificates stating that they are registered lifeguards in aquatic emergency services. Muyenga said the same process will be followed at other schools.

“It is important to equip these children with information because the beaches they usually go to do not have lifeguards most of the time. The community needs to be educated in order to prevent drowning incidents.

“Parents and guardians are encouraged not to leave their children unattended,” he added.

Felicia Hafenunye, head girl at Tutaleni Primary School, said she was excited about the training.

“We recently heard about a boy from one of our high schools who drowned during a tour. We do not want that to happen to us. We want to learn about water safety,” said Hafenunye.

The head boy at the school, Alouis Gowaseb, said many children go to the sea, but do not know how to swim.

“This information is very important,” he observed.

Pupils were equipped with safety information and T-shirts, while also participating in a quiz on water safety.

Other schools are encouraged to contact the company so that they can get the same presentation.

The company was established in February 2017 by Muyenga after rescuing a number of people at Walvis Bay.

He said he has been working in naval operations for 10 years, and has acquired a lot of aquatic experience, which inspired him to pass on the skills to the youth of the country.

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