Lifesaving training, community support needed to tackle drownings in Phuket: ILS Chair

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

Justin Scarr, the chair of the International Life Saving Federation (ILSF) Drowning Prevention Commission, speaks at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention currently being held in Durban, South Africa. Photo: Anthony Grote

 

PHUKET: The Chair of the International Life Saving Federation (ILSF) Drowning Prevention Commission, Justin Scarr, has stressed the importance of lifesaving training, community involvement and making public information available in key local areas as crucial in preventing more drownings at Phuket’s beaches.

 

 

 

Speaking to The Phuket News at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention currently being held in Durban, South Africa, Mr Scarr explained, “The ILS and WHO raise global, regional and national awareness of drowning and its prevention in order to reduce the number of drownings worldwide.

 

“We are aiming to reduce the number drownings more quickly, and to achieve that in Phuket lifesaving training is important.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/lifesaving-training-community-support-needed-to-tackle-drownings-in-phuket-ils-chair-73199.php#IijtZkiyiuVeP12R.99

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2019-10-10

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Thailand already has quality world class lifesaving training, mostly conducted by the Thailand Swimming Association under the leadership, guidance and testing of the Australian Institute of Sport, but their sessions are not well publicized and poorly attended and not free. Also many of the sessions are conducted in English, which lowers attendance and also means many attendees don't understand the lessons.

 

Additionally a group of qualified anulmi folks from several unis conduct lessons across Thailand on how to float, how to save yourself etc. These sessions are mostly free with the teachers paying their own transport and accommodation costs. Again not all that well publicized.

 

 

 

 

So, in reality that means they need to replace the clowns with educated lifeguards.

Could it help in having well trained, well equiped lifeguards present (and not playing with their phones) every 100 yards along the beach ?