‘Empty bottles can save lives in water emergencies’

GEORGE TOWN: Empty water bottles and containers can save lives in water emergencies and floods.Just tape a few together – especially if they are 500ml bottles - and they become instant flotation devices, says Geh Thuan Tek, a board of trustee member with the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth.

“If you do not have a life jacket and are not comfortable about getting into the water, just bring this custom-made flotation device with you. The five-litre water containers even have a handle that a person can hold onto in the water,” said Geh, a Water Safety Activity Council of Malaysia member.

Recently, three sisters who went swimming at Pantai Cahaya beach in Port Dickson drowned during a family outing, while two others were rescued.

In Ipoh, Perak alone, four drowning cases were reported in the first four months this year, including a three-year-old girl who was found drowned in a children’s swimming pool near her grandfather’s house in Tambun on April 30.

“If you see someone in difficulty in the water, use a long object like a stick to reach them, or throw them a floating object like water container or rope.

“Get their attention before you throw them the floating object. Stay low on the ground when pulling the victim in, so the person in difficulty cannot pull you into the water,” said Geh, who is a senior grade-one assessor for International Certification in Lifesaving and Lifeguarding.

Swimming to a person struggling in the water could be dangerous, he said, adding that many people had drowned while trying to rescue others.

Geh said natural water bodies could change dramatically with weather conditions such as the tides, currents and wind.

The authorities, he said, should advise the people on the dos and don’ts during strong tide seasons.

“Get the advice of locals, or the beach boys. It can be dangerous if you get pushed by the strong waves or currents,” he said.

Geh said most drownings occurred when people with poor swimming skills and knowledge of prevention measures accidentally stepped or fell into water too deep to stand in.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had said recently that drowning was the leading cause of death for children aged under five globally.

With an estimated 236,000 people worldwide dying from drowning in 2019, Chow said it was the third leading cause of unintentional deaths, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths reported by the World Health Organisation.

Life Saving Society of Malaysia secretary-general Yam Chee Keong said the public must heed signs or flags that warn of dangerous waters.

“Pool owners, water theme park operators or the authorities must put up signs to warn the public,” he said.

Yam said his society and the authorities had drawn up guidelines on workable solutions.

“We can provide swimming pool owners with a checklist for self-audit and self-management.”

Yam said parental supervision was also key to preventing drowning.“Parents must be aware that even good swimmers can drown.”