DROWNING is now the leading cause of death for children aged under five globally, but preventive measures can still be taken to reduce the casualties.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who viewed the drowning incidents seriously, said an estimated 236,000 people had died from drowning in 2019 alone.
Hence, he said it was now a major public health concern worldwide, making it the third leading cause of unintentional deaths, which accounted for 7% of all injury-related deaths as reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“From our data obtained from the Fire and Rescue Department from January to August last year, 201 incidents were reported. Out of that, 190 involved casualties.
“From the same data as well, the seaside has 30 deaths, the waterfall has 16 deaths, the river has 122 deaths, the lake has 21 deaths and the treatment pond with a death.
“The Water Activity Safety Council has also identified 15 high-risk drowning areas in Sabah, Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Penang in 2018. The frequency of death by drowning was more than five victims,” he said in his speech during the launching of the Survival Swimming and Water Safety Programme and the presentation of The Royal Commonwealth President’s Award to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) in Komtar today.
To prevent drowning from taking place, Chow noted certain measures could be done.
“These include installing barriers, using doorway barriers and playpens or even fencing up the swimming pool areas.
“Community-based, supervised childcare for pre-school children can reduce drowning risk as well,” he said.
Chow was also glad that Penang will host the first ASEAN Nation’s Drowning Prevention Capacity B
uilding Workshop and Conference from May 29 to May 31 this year.
“This programme is organised by The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, Life Saving Society Malaysia, the Water Safety Activity Council secretariat by Fire and Rescue Department and the Life Saving Society Penang. It is also supported by the Asean – Australia Council and WHO,” he said.
Chow lauded the effort by MBPP to provide their input on the creation of guidelines to reduce drowning cases.
MBPP secretary Datuk A. Rajendran said he was proud of the recognition given to the council.
Royal Life Saving Society deputy Commonwealth president Olive Holland, in a broadcast message, said he was delighted with the effort taken by the state to look into drowning incidents.
Among those present were Life Saving Society Penang patron Datuk Seri Steven Ooi, Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth and Water Safety Activity Council of Malaysia founding member Geh Thuan Tek, Life Saving Society Malaysia secretary general Yam Chee Keong, and Life Saving Society Penang president Geh Cheow Chien.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis