Thai Health Ministry Urges Drinkers To Avoid Floodwaters

[webfact]

Drinkers warned of drowning in floodwater

BANGKOK, 24 September 2012 (NNT) – Amidst the current flooding, Deputy Minister of Public Health Dr. Surawit Khonsomboon has revealed the danger of being intoxicated while staying in the water, saying the act can lead to death from drowning.

According to Dr. Surawit, alcohol consumption results in the expansion of blood vessels, causing the body to lose heat and the body temperature to drop. The occurrence, he explained, will lead to leg cramps, or worse, a body shutdown.

Therefore, the Deputy Minister encouraged all consumers of alcoholic beverages in flood-affected areas to refrain from drinking near waterways as they would not be able to help themselves and could drown if they fell into the water.

Regarding the flood disaster, medical units have been dispatched to help flood victims in Chachoengsao and Nakhon Nayok provinces, where the runoff is expected to arrive in a few days. In Prachin Buri, the emergency unit has already relocated 30 people with chronic diseases from their heavily-flooded homes in Kabin Buri district to the hospital.

Three people, one soldier and two children, were rescued from a strong torrent using ropes in Sa Kaeo province. People are encouraged to call the emergency line 1669 to get help when it is needed.

-- NNT 2012-09-24

[Thai at Heart]

How about, inundated families tell doctor to f*** off, and get government to improve flood protection.

[Moruya]

He'd be better employed asking them to not drive if they've been drinking

[bigbamboo]

'The Health Ministry urges drinkers to avoid floodwaters'.

Sound advice, although lovers of Thai beer may not notice the difference.

[Rajab Al Zarahni]

Personally I deplore the overindulgence in alcohol by either children or soldiers !

[warfie]

Another statement of the bleeding <Snip!> obvious...

Edited September 24, 2012 by metisdead
: Profanity

[Moruya]

What chronic diseases did they contract from their homes?

[chowny77]

Dr. Surawit should get a job on Seseme street, Barney or Rainbow for this very enlightening piece of advice!! What an complete example of why Thailand is so backwards!!!

[JoeLing]

Drinkers warned of drowning in floodwater

[asiawatcher]

Everyone else have already said what needs to be said! I'm going to find a puddle, sit in it and have a beer.

[Misterwhisper]

Sometimes I am really scratching my head over who composes headlines such as this one....

[Thai at Heart]

More urging from the nation

[culicine]

Drinkers warned of drowning in floodwater

And some drinkers dream of drowning in beer

[madmitch]

How does a story like this make the press?

[hyperdimension]

The doctor should instead recommend abstinence from alcohol as it is one of the most harmful recreational drugs. Here are results of two separate studies to back this up:

Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis:

Quantifying the RR of harm to self and others from substance misuse: results from a survey of clinical experts across Scotland:

[Bagwan]

Personally I deplore the overindulgence in alcohol by either children or soldiers !

So it's alright for cops, especially those who carry guns when off duty?

[looping]

Maybe he could be working on urging floodwaters to avoid drinkers?

[Bagwan]

Everyone else have already said what needs to be said! I'm going to find a puddle, sit in it and have a beer.

Do you have display your sanity so blatently?

[jonclark]

I love Thailand - In the last two days alone we've had 'water proof plastic' pussy whitening cream and now the dangers of mixing alcohol and floods

In my youth I use to dabble in LSD. But nothing i every experienced on those trips comes close to the surreal sense of being separated from reality that comes with living in Thailand. Love it, you couldn't make it up.

[Bagwan]

So a fast running stream of water aka a torrent, has learned to use ropes? Proof, as if it were needed, that a large body of dirty water has greater intelligence than a Thai politician. Thailand, the hub of the split infinitives .

[Scott]

The only time I could get across the road near my home without being killed by cars, trucks, motorcycles and anything else that moves, was when it was flooded and I could just quietly wade through chest deep water. The occasional snake swimming along was more than enough to sober me up and keep me from dallying about in the water for too long.

[jerrysteve]

MAKE mine a Gin N Tonic (absolute of course) with a lemon twist, but lime will do; make it double.

Cheers to the Thai HealthMinistry

[draftvader]

Maybe they've got a point. Displacement is real, don't you know!? If they can get a whole demographic to stay out that might just lower the flood levels enough

[anto909]

You couldn't make it up!!!

Edited September 24, 2012 by anto909

[arthurboy]

I feared the worst when I saw the thread headline.

My heart, my head said no, no and thrice no - don't open and read it.

But sadly I did. And now forlornly here I sit, non the wiser, my thoughts filled only with the bleakest of winters.

My worst fears have come true.

What masquerades as news is, in fact, total,utter, complete tripe.

Maybe one day I'll learn.

Edited September 24, 2012 by arthurboy

[Thai at Heart]

I feared the worst when I saw the headline. My heart, my head said no, no and thrice no - don't open it and read. But sadly

But is a stunning insight. You can drown in water.

[Morakot]

Nanny state advice? Also please take your umbrella when it rains...

[Thai at Heart]

Nanny state advice? Also please take your umbrella when it rains...

Don't insult anyone's nanny.

[Morakot]

Nanny state advice? Also please take your umbrella when it rains...

Don't insult anyone's nanny.

Feeling grumpy today? Or left the heart somewhere?

Edited September 24, 2012 by Morakot

[Thai at Heart]

Nanny state advice? Also please take your umbrella when it rains...

Don't insult anyone's nanny.

Feeling grumpy today? Or left the heart somewhere?

Well neexing to be told that getting pissed and falling over in water is dangerous, he may as well warn people about running down stairs.

Most people died last year from electrocution right?

Edited September 24, 2012 by Thai at Heart