Drowning: Biggest Killer Of Asian Children

[garyh]

Drowning: Biggest Killer of Asian Children

http://www.ausleisure.com.au/default.asp?PageID=35

Recently released research shows that drowning is the biggest killer of children in Asia, with drowning rates up to 20 times higher than those in western countries - claiming 350,000 younglives every year.

The research, conducted over the last seven years, was spearheaded by UNICEF and The Alliance for Safe Children (TASC), working in partnership with local public health teams. Along with other 2004 research from China's Ministry of Health, it shows a huge number of drownings each year:

In Bangladesh, 16,892 children drowned in 2003.

In Vietnam, 11,665 children drowned in 2003.

In Thailand, 2,604 children under 18 died from drowning in 2004 (while other estimates suggest the figure is higher, as less than a quarter of Thai drownings are reported to hospitals).

In China, at least 57,000 people of all ages perished by accidental drowning during 2004 (research by the World Health Organisation says the actual number of fatalities could have been as high as 112,000), with drowning the number one cause of death among under-15s.

In addition, in the Philippines drowning ranks as the main cause of death among under-18s.

The UNICEF/TASC report explains that over the past few decades, Asia has made major progress in cutting the number of deaths among children-under five, with extended vaccination coverage, better access to sanitation and good hygiene and improvements in nutrition playing a critical role. But the survey findings confirm what has often been known within communities across the region: that the risk of dying from injury increases after infancy as children grow more independent and interact with their environment and as the threat of death from infectious and non-communicable diseases falls. Nearly half of all child deaths included in the studies happened after the age of five.

The report highlights that above the age of five, children in Asia spend more time out of their homes and both explore and take risks in their environment. With the proximity of open sea, lakes, rivers, wells, ditches, water containers and other areas of standing water, this all too frequently leads to tragedy.

The UNICEF/TASC report was based on responses gathered from face-to-face interviews with more than half a million households covering more than two million people in the five countries. For the first time ever in the countries covered, the causes of death and disability among a representative sample of all children up to 18 years were reliably recorded.

Speaking of the findings, TASC Pete Peterson, recently stated, "this evidence overwhelmingly confirms that drowning is and has been a major killer. It is now time to reverse this tide of deaths." TASC believes this high level of drownings is unacceptable and believes that Asian nations need to establish a minimum benchmark for the number of lives to be saved each year through drowning prevention activities believing that child health programs are not complete unless they address drowning.

TASC argues that children who can swim rarely drown and has started to provide survival swimming classes throughout Asia to teach children how to save themselves and others from dangerous situations. These classes, for children aged between four and 10, are not about swimming as a sport but about water safety.

In Bangladesh, TASC is working with local partners to create better ways for parents to supervise young children. This includes local community day care centres which can also serve as immunisation points, early childhood development centres and a place for social gatherings.

With the Centre for Injury Prevention Bangladesh (CIPRB), TASC has commenced a pilot community drowning prevention program, supported by UNICEF Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Swimming Federation and the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA).

Justin Scarr, RLSSA's Chief Operating Officer has visited Bangladesh twice since 2005 to assist in the development of this program. As he explains, "by teaching children to swim, and more importantly safe survival techniques, these children will have the life-saving skills they need to know how to swim safely; to save themselves and to rescue their peers. These skills will stay with them for life."

Utilising local ponds the programs see children learning basic swimming techniques as well as water safety skills - learning not to swim without supervision, how to save a peer if they get into trouble, and how to keep themselves afloat until help arrives.

The ponds are often modified to swimming enclosures using local materials such as bamboo. Significantly, the programs are conducted by local people, often older teenagers, who have been trained as part of the program.

Scarr explains that "the program has been shown to protect children from drowning in everyday life as well as increasing general community awareness of preventative actions such as creating safe play areas, emptying or covering water containers and actively supervising children when in, on or around water."

The initial success of these programs has led CIPRB to estimate that a comprehensive package of water safety interventions could reduce future child drownings by two-thirds. The success has also led to huge community demand for more classes in Bangladesh and other Asian nations to plan survival swimming programs.

As a result, RLSSA and TASC are currently starting similar programs in Vietnam, while RLSSA are also supporting the establishment of Philippines Life Saving Society.

Scarr believes such activities "are an important part of our commitment to international development in water safety and also reinforce the value of anti-drowning programs in Australia."

As he concludes "the significance of this UNICEF/TASC research to the Australian and international lifesaving community should not be under-estimated. The scientific evidence supporting strategies that as Australians we take for granted such as swimming and water safety lessons, parental supervision and the creation of barriers around water will be invaluable in the design and development of strategies in Australia, as well as providing a blueprint for action in Asia, Africa and across the Pacific."

Royal Life Saving Society Australia International Development activities, also extend to India, Philippines, Vietnam and China, and are supported by life saving equipment supplier Laerdal Australia.

[bkkjames]

Interesting article with some disturbing facts / figures.

A couple of things come to mind ; worst country has rates 20x that of western nations but which ones? What is the median in Asia,, 5x??

If you compared Canada (low swimming nation) with say Indonesia where I imagine most kids swim alot, of course the rate would be higher.

and this ... TASC believes this high level of drownings is unacceptable and believes that Asian nations need to establish a minimum benchmark for the number of lives to be saved each year through drowning prevention activities believing that child health programs are not complete unless they address drowning

How do you do this? If last year country x saw 1000 drownings so the we call it a success if we reduce the number to 900 this year?

Child Health Programmes in poor parts of Asia where the bulk of these drownings no doubt occur? Do they really have any idea of things on the ground here?

[LennyW]

Does not surprise me, i was horrified to see very small boys, i am guessing 8 to 10 years old launching themselves off the river kwai bridge for the 20 baht amusment of dumb tourists!!

Firstly it is a huge drop to the water, but then the fast flowing river was carrying them a good 1 to 2 Kms downstream till they managed to get to the side!!, some went so far downstream with the current they were out of sight!

Horrific, i felt like slapping some of these dumb tourists, giving the boys 20 baht to risk death for their amusement!!

[Moonrakers]

Just a guess here, but I reckon that you could replace the word "drowning" with the words "lack of parental supervision".

[Garry9999]

Drowning: Biggest Killer of Asian Children

I thought it would have been vehicle accidents.

[garyh]

Just a guess here, but I reckon that you could replace the word "drowning" with the words "lack of parental supervision".

This would be part of it but what was very disturbing (this is from a radio program I heard today from ABC Australia) children would go off to play, if one fell in the water and was drowning the others would go to get the parents but other onlookers would do nothing. Mean while by the time the parents get back it is too late and they have no idea about resuscitation.

If nothing else this article may prompt some Farang parents to give the issue a few thoughts.

[Flatouthruthefog]

Drowning: Biggest Killer of Asian Children

I thought it would have been vehicle accidents.

Logical assumption!

However, figures issued here in Thailand in - or about - 2004 stated that in the under 14 age group, drowning was the biggest killer. AND in the north of Thailand, as far from the ocean as you can get!

It's mainly boys playing in rivers, klongs, rice paddies etc with (of course!) no parental supervision and no swimming skills. They can dive, but not swim!

Swimming is NOT taught in Thai govt schools. There are no facilities and children are NOT taken to the local municipal pool (as our lot were back in Blighty in the 50's).

This is a tragic lack of co-ordination.

Here in Chiang Mai we have a good local authority pool and a terrific modern pool at the 700 Year Sports Stadium. Both have qualified swimming coaches (especially the former), totally under-utilised.

No-one knows. No-one goes.

Some 4 years ago, my Thai wife and I tried to raise interest in a Foundation which would simply teach swimming and save lives. There was very mild, brief interest from a few wealthy expats and the Red Cross. Then nothing.

All suggestions/assistance gratefully received!

[Nouie]

It's very sad that many children in Thailand drown.

I, in fact, lost my cousin to drowning in my remote village near Sa Kaeo a couple of years ago.

He was only 9 years of age at the time.

The unfortunate thing is that many schools/facilities in such country side towns don't have any pools or supervised swimming areas to teach the children how to swim.

Thus, children underestimate the dangers of water and fall in.

I appreciate your effort, Flatouthruthefog.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Nouie