Time to take water safety seriously

THE Education Ministry’s proposed swimming programme in school is in danger of sinking even before it has a real chance to test the waters. Which is a shame.

If there is any skill that Malaysian children are in dire need of, it is swimming.

Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) statistics show that at least one person dies every day from drowning in Malaysia.

The JBPM data indicate that, on average, up to 400 drowning deaths are recorded every year, which is more than the annual average of deaths involving fire, recorded at 150 a year. Worse, this could just be the tip of the iceberg as it does not include cases at manmade or indoor places like swimming pools and water theme parks.

According to the Perak Clinical Research Centre, which has conducted extensive research on drowning, about 500 children drown annually, and drowning is the second highest cause of death among those below 18 years of age.

Declining to comment on the controversy surrounding the Education Ministry’s water safety initiative (Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s suggestion that hotels allow schools to use their swimming pools for swimming lessons came under fire), Assistant Commissioner Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim, who heads the Public Awareness Programme branch at JBPM, says they have been running various programmes and campaigns in schools including “Jom Belajar Berenang” (Let’s learn how to swim) to promote swimming among the young in the country and raise water safety awareness.

“It’s time we empower our children. Drownings are not just accidents. They can be prevented if safety precautions are taken.

“But most Malaysian parents’ strategy is to tell their children to keep away from water – unlike in the West, where they encourage their children to learn how to swim and give them water safety skills so that they are aware of the risks when doing water activities and know how to keep safe,” says Nik Zulkifli.

Noting that cost is a barrier, he says the local councils, corporate sector and private groups such as swimming clubs, could collaborate with the Education Ministry – some already are but not enough – to provide swimming lessons at discounted rates or even for free.

“Other than neglecting safety precautions when doing water activities, people’s lack of swimming skills or even awareness of their own ability in the water are the main causes of drowning,” he notes. “You’d be surprised at how many people are confident that they are strong swimmers when they really are not, or those who don’t realise that age or their physical fitness, or rather lack of, can affect their swimming ability.”

The most common reason for drowning, he says, is trying to save a drowning victim without swimming and rescuing skills.

It is a situation we are too familiar with: A family goes on a picnic at a waterfall. Suddenly one of the children struggles in the water. The father, sister or brother jumps in to help. The drowning victim is pulled out to safety, but the intended rescuer drowns. Or worse, they all drown.

How many times have we heard of the scenario where six friends or a family of five all drown while out on a day at the beach or the river?

“Even if you know how to swim, it doesn’t mean that you can rescue a drowning person as that would require strength and a different set of skills,” he says. “That is why we try to highlight to people not to get into the water when trying to rescue a person.”

Safe rescue skills training is one of the water safety awareness programmes conducted by JBPM under its Water Rescue Unit and as a member of the National Water Safety Council.

“When someone is drowning, he or she will do everything to keep their head above water to get air and in that panicked state, the person tends to climb on the rescuer and push the rescuer down into the water. That is how the multiple drownings happen.

“In our programme, we teach people techniques of how to avoid that. We also teach them how to use the things around them like sticks and empty mineral bottles to save the victim without having to dive into the water,” he says.

Crucially, stresses Nik Zulkifli, people must be aware of their own ability in the water and not to be shy to use personal floating devices or life jackets, even when only getting on a boat or doing other water activities.

“People should at least have these safety equipment with them every time they go for a picnic at a water spot or do any water activities.”

This includes fishing, he adds, highlighting that many anglers have drowned because they had slipped and fallen into the river or lake. Zulkifli tells that JBPM hopes to install life saving appliance boxes – each containing a rope, life jacket and small personal floating device – at water recreational spots around the country, especially the high risk areas.

“So, in the case of emergency, people can open the box to use the equipment to rescue the drowning victim. At the same time, there will be an alarm installed, so that every time the box is opened, the alarm will be triggered and an alert will be sent straight to us and the other authorities to send a rescue team,” he says, adding that JBPM has already come up with a design and is currently working out the kinks in its implementation.

“Our worry is vandalism. But if we let the vandalism threat stop us, nothing will happen...,” he says.

To control access to dangerous bodies of water, the department has identified 12 hot spot locations nationwide as “high risk” areas – such as rivers, waterfalls, dams, lakes and beaches with a high number of drowning incidents involving more than five victims.

These areas include Sungai SKC Kg Timah and Sungai Sendat waterfalls in Selangor; Lata Berembun waterfalls in Raub, Pahang; Pantai Nipah in Kelantan; Teluk Bahang beach in Penang; and Sungai Kg Batu Payung in Tawau, Sabah.

Around 34 “risk” areas nationwide – those with drowning incidents involving fewer than five victims – have also been identified.

Another water safety initiative the JBPM is taking is to put up standard universal signage at the water hot spots, especially the high risk places.

“We are working with local councils and it’s already in the last phase of implementation. Now we are working on the awareness campaign so that people will be able to recognise and understand the symbols when they see the signage, ” he says.

Ultimately, the signs that people have to take heed of are the geographical environment of the water recreational areas and the weather before embarking on any activities there, says Nik Zulkifli.

“For example, in the rainy season, people have to be aware if there is rain upstream or if it is going to rain. They also need to find out more about the terrain, if that place is prone to landslides, headwaters overflow and others.

“It might be clear where you are and the water is calm there but upstream, the headwaters are swelling because of rain earlier, “ he says, citing the case at Sungai Gasi in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, in February where eight anglers drowned when they were swept away by the strong currents caused by the headwaters which had swollen from rain upstream.

Some of our beaches are known to have riptides or strong currents or large waves and a steep seabed with sudden drops into deep water, so it’s best to know what the risks are before jumping in, he warns.

Sadly, many Malaysians don’t bother to find out the conditions at a water spot or its risks before doing any water activities there. Based on the statistics, many drowning victims were unfamiliar with the water conditions and unaware of the weather forecast before getting into the water.

“If you do your research before going, you will know what dangers an area is prone to or the common phenomena there is,” he says, advising people to ask the locals or community living there if they are not sure.

With proper signage, people can know what the dangers are, but with Malaysia’s extensive coastline and water bodies, it’s best to also raise children’s awareness of the geographical and climate signs, he says.

This is especially important during the monsoon seasons, which coincide with school holidays, says Nik Zulkifli, warning parents to keep an eye on their children.

“They have to learn not to go into unknown waters like mining pools, canals and even storm drains or flood water. Or if it looks like heavy rain or a thunderstorm is coming and what the implications are. Crucially, we need to empower them with water safety skills and swimming skills. That can help keep them safe.”