Swimming for life

Mother teaching her child to swim at MBJB Aquatic Centre Arena Larkin.

Crucial to teach this skill in flood-prone Johor

GROWING up as a Bajau in Semporna, Sabah meant that most of my childhood was spent swimming in between houses at the water village.

For children in Semporna then, the ocean was their playground. Instead of football, we had water polo and instead of running or playing tag, we swam.

I remember having my first swimming lesson with my late grandfather.

Although the method was a bit extreme, it shaped me into the person I am today.

The six-year-old me would be flung into the ocean along with my two brothers.

This “method” would be repeated until we could flail our way to friends and family or the nearest pillar under the house.

Everyone, young and old, would spend their time swimming, especially during high tide.

“Panic is what drowns you,” my grandfather would say.

When I came to Johor, I discovered that despite the state’s many islands, waterfalls, rivers and beaches, only a handful of people I knew could swim.

Johor is also one of the most affected states during the northeast monsoon season, with 874 flood-prone areas or hotspots identified.

This means life-threatening situations can happen without warning.

This is why swimming should be taught, especially to people living in flood-prone areas.

It is a skill that could make all the difference in an emergency.

The presence of trained swimmers in volunteer associations (besides rescue personnel) can greatly enhance rescue efforts and save lives.

The recently opened Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) Aquatic Centre Arena Larkin in Johor Baru can be utilised to impart these life-saving lessons.

Collaborations between non-profit volunteer associations and emergency response units such as Fire and Rescue Department or Civil Defence Force can further strengthen rescue operations during flood incidents.

To date, Johor has more than 38,000 Southern Volunteers and some of them have been sent to undergo swim training together with Civil Defence Force and Welfare Department.

Through recognition of swimming as an essential life skill, we can collectively contribute towards building safer communities that are better prepared for challenges like floods.

This is also in line with Johor government’s plans to instal more life-saving appliances (LiSA) during the monsoon season to reduce the number of deaths caused by drowning.

Three LiSAs have been placed in Pantai Awam Desaru, Pantai Batu Layar and Gunung Ledang Waterfall.

The department recorded 22 drowning cases, including 17 fatalities this year.

The majority involved victims between the ages of 11 and 19.

As such, it is crucial to teach children swimming skills.

I hope more people will utilise the MBJB Aquatic Centre Arena Larkin for this.

The entrance fee is RM8 for adults and RM4 for children, and the centre is open every day except Wednesday.