Professional Diver Warns: Rivers Are the Most Dangerous
Branislav Sadžaković urges citizens to be more cautious during the upcoming heatwave and offers key water safety tips.
Branislav Sadžaković urges citizens to be more cautious during the upcoming heatwave and offers key water safety tips.
As temperatures soar past 40 degrees, many citizens will seek relief at swimming spots. Professional diver Branislav Sadžaković warns that the sea, rivers, and lakes all carry their own dangers, and he appeals to all swimmers to be cautious and responsible.
Sadžaković points out that rivers are the most dangerous due to poor visibility and moving water. "Rivers are the most dangerous because there's no visibility and the water is moving. The biggest problem is unregulated swimming areas, and they should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. The key is for people to go to organized beaches with lifeguard services, where someone can assess the situation and provide help," Sadžaković told the Nova.rs portal.
He emphasizes that the presence of lifeguards and adherence to flag signaling can be crucial in preventing accidents. Swimmers should pay attention to markers indicating whether swimming conditions are safe.
A special appeal is directed at parents. Sadžaković warns that child drowning is often silent, with no waving or screaming as we might expect. "Parents must keep them in sight at all times. Children drown silently-there's no screaming or waving. They try to get their mouths above the surface, their legs barely move, and they make instinctive movements as if trying to push off the water, which is impossible," explains the professional diver.
His advice is clear: if a child goes missing from sight at a swimming area, the first and most important step is to look in the water immediately, not to search the surrounding area. "If a child goes missing from sight at a swimming area, the most important thing is to look in the pool or water right away. Everything else will be easy to resolve if they've just wandered off-look in the water first," says Sadžaković.
Speaking about safety in open waters, especially the sea, Sadžaković stresses the importance of wearing life jackets, particularly for weak swimmers and children. "Waves push weak swimmers back into the water, and you need to catch the right moment to swim out. Also, you should wear life jackets. We've been saying this for years, and we don't know why people don't wear them or what they're ashamed of. Even professionals wear them-there's no shame in it," he says.
A life jacket not only makes it easier to spot a person in the water but also keeps the head above the surface in case of fainting or injury. Sadžaković also shared a harrowing experience: "I witnessed a situation where a man was driving a boat, and in the front were a woman and a newborn in her arms, without life jackets. In such situations, a small bump or a sudden movement can cause everyone to end up in the water, and by then it's too late."
Another common mistake is jumping into water at unfamiliar spots. "If the place is unknown, you don't know if there are rocks or other obstacles below the surface. Fractures are easy to happen, so you should never jump in unverified places," warns Sadžaković, adding that you should always check if someone is already in the water to avoid serious injuries.
The professional diver also appeals to drivers of speedboats, boats, and jet skis, who often ignore markers on the water, thinking they are buoys. "But often it's not a buoy. We had a case where a jet ski driver hit a man who was just surfacing and split his skull," reveals Sadžaković. Therefore, it is essential for boat operators to avoid marked swimming zones and be extremely cautious. "There's no room for showing off. Boat drivers should stay away from areas designated for swimmers, and everyone must respect the marked zones on beaches," he concludes.
Finally, he says it's not shameful to ask for help: "If someone isn't a confident swimmer, it's not shameful to approach a lifeguard and ask them to keep an extra eye on you while you're in the water."
