Public Health Min warns parents of child drowning risks

[webfact]

Public Health Min warns parents of child drowning risks



BANGKOK, 21 April 2014 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is warning parents to take a close eye on their kids going out swimming in natural ponds around home as rate of child drowning is normally high during April and May, the period of summer school vacation.

Dr. Narong Sahametapat, Permanent Secretary for Public Health, said high temperatures in April and May usually drive more children to swim in the pools, canals and rivers around their home; therefore, he is urging all parents to keep a tight watch on their youngsters.

According to the statistics compiled between 2002 and 2013, almost 50,000 people in Thailand died because of drowning and more than 15,000 of the victims or 31 percent were children. The record also shows that yearly an average of 165 children less than 15 years of age die from drowning.

Last year alone, he said drowning took lives of 925 children - all of them were below 15.

The Permanent Secretary has ordered all relevant agencies nationwide to step up measures and raise public awareness on drowning risks, particularly urging parents not to let their kids out of sight when they are swimming.

-- NNT 2014-04-21

[Costas2008]

At least the kid on the bridge is wearing an inflatable life saver round his waist.

Or not?

[retell]

Ask the kids to watch their parents also as more of those drown than kids

Anyway good that they mention it .

[NongKhaiKid]

Wonderful, the government has to tell parents to look after their children and this is a society where family is supposed to mean so much.

[CelticBhoy]

Can't drown in a drought. That's my motto.

[PatOngo]

Is'nt it just fascinating to watch developing countries............developing. 2557..........reminds me of 1957.

[Thai at Heart]

925 child drownings per year. 2.5 per day. What a horrendous stat.

[Maroon Watcher]

my mates girl friend says it only takes one inch!

Can't drown in a drought. That's my motto.

[Maroon Watcher]

..took me 50 years to get one of those!

At least the kid on the bridge is wearing an inflatable life saver round his waist.

Or not?

[Costas2008]

my mates girl friend says it only takes one inch!

Can't drown in a drought. That's my motto.

Wellllll if she's happy with that, who am I to say anything?

[bheard]

As one would expect, the government quoted figures on child drownings are way below reality.

http://swimsafe.org/drowning/drowning-data/

Check the true numbers given in the link - a group working to reduce the number of children dieing by drowning, everywhere. 7 per day (!) in Thailand = 2555 per year. The complacency of the Thai people to these drownings is abhorrent to say the least. Thai people love their children? Yeah, right!

Also take a look at other Asian countries, OMG

[Artisi]

my mates girl friend says it only takes one inch!

Can't drown in a drought. That's my motto.

Easily satisfied girl friend by the sounds of that.

[NowImEasy]

Looks like these kids are jumping into a foot of water(13 or so cm). What's worse... drowning or a broken neck?