Drowning cases in Thailand: Most are children under 15

[webfact]

File photo

 

INN reported on data from the Department of Disease Control of Thailand about drowning related incidents.

 

From January 1st to September 14th they had dealt with 184 incidents in which 174 people had died. 

Most were children under 15.

 

ASEAN NOW notes that this is just a fraction of drowning related deaths in Thailand. WHO data in 2020 said there were 3,956 deaths ranking Thailand as #22 in the world. 

 

Image: INN

 

Deaths among children under 15 from drowning and from motorcycle accident are close. 

 

The department said that in order of the number of cases of drowning klongs (canals) were at the top followed by rivers, agricultural ponds, the sea and swimming pools.

 

The reasons were inability to swim, no idea how to save lives of those in trouble, parents not having been informed of swimming activities, no parents supervising children, no signage and no barriers.

 

The department warned that with flooding predicted things would likely get worse in the coming weeks.

 

They came up with a cute graphic to try and prevent deaths with advice to "shout (for help) - throw (something like a floatable plastic can) - hold out (a stick or a sarong)".

 

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[petermik]

They are taught from a very early age how to ride a motorcycle...but teaching them to swim is a totally different matter...........

[Darksidedude]

My biggest fear for my daughter was drowning, doesn't seem to get taught a lot by the Thais which is strange considering how much water is around.

 

First thing to do is get your kid to learn to swim.

 

if your kid falls into any ponds, rivers etc the water is so dark you have no hope of finding them if they fall in

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

ASEAN NOW notes that this is just a fraction of drowning related deaths in Thailand. WHO data in 2020 said there were 3,956 deaths ranking Thailand as #22 in the world. 

Shocking statistic, when you consider 99% are actually preventable.