World lifeguard chief appeals to PM Prayut over Phuket drownings

[webfact]

World lifeguard chief appeals to PM Prayut over Phuket drownings

The Phuket News

 

Phuket lifeguards attempt to revive a Russian tourist on the beach after rescuing him from strong surf. Photo: The Phuket News / file

 

PHUKET: -- The President of the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) has appealed directly to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha to take urgent action to support Phuket’s lifeguards in order to stem the growing tide of drownings at the island’s beaches.

 

Citing hundreds of drownings in Phuket in recent years and little improvement over the past 10 years, ISLA President Henry Reyes in a formal letter to PM Prayut dated Jan 10 called the ongoing deaths at the beaches an “epidemic”.

 

Mr Reyes also pointed out that many of the victims were tourists from Australia, China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.

 

“During the monsoon season from May to November, dangerous ocean currents are created by strong winds and waves. These waves and currents make Phuket’s ocean waters extremely dangerous for beach patrons, especially those with little or no ocean swimming experience,” Mr Reyes wrote.

 

“Since 2010, hundreds of international visitors and Thai citizens have drowned in the ocean waters surrounding Phuket. According to the Thai Ministry of Public Health, drowning is the leading cause of death of Thai children under 16 years old…

 

“It is also a leading cause of death among tourists in Phuket,” he added.

 

Mr Reyes called on PM Prayut to intervene in the impending budget cuts by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) to reduce lifeguard funding by 10%, citing The Phuket News page one story last month “Slashed budget puts Phuket lifeguard patrols in danger”.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/world-lifeguard-chief-appeals-to-pm-prayut-over-phuket-drownings-60606.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-01-13

[edwinchester]

CPR on the crotch?

 

[wakeupplease]

We don't need to spend my money on lifeguards will be the reply, because they are only Farangs

[Reigntax]

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

CPR on the crotch?

 

 

Because he knows where farangs who visit Phuket are most likely to have a pulse.

[stevenl]

46 minutes ago, wakeupplease said:

We don't need to spend my money on lifeguards will be the reply, because they are only Farangs

Stupid answer that shows you really have no idea.

[Krataiboy]

3 hours ago, wakeupplease said:

We don't need to spend my money on lifeguards will be the reply, because they are only Farangs

 

“Since 2010, hundreds of international visitors and Thai citizens have drowned . . . "

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr Reyes called on PM Prayut to intervene in the impending budget cuts by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) to reduce lifeguard funding by 10%, citing The Phuket News page one story last month “Slashed budget puts Phuket lifeguard patrols in danger”.

Tourism up spending on safety down. Typical. 

[NamKangMan]

"Citing hundreds of drownings in Phuket in recent years and little improvement over the past 10 years" - nothing has improved for tourists, locals, and expats on Phuket over recent years, or the last 10 years, for that matter.

 

 

[oldgent]

bet you can guess what the PM will say CLOSE THE BEACH

[ExpatOilWorker]

2 minutes ago, oldgent said:

bet you can guess what the PM will say CLOSE THE BEACH

 

or remove the water.

[Thechook]

Australia provides equipment, funds and training so prayuth probably thinks it's covered.

[SOTIRIOS]

...duhh...no kidding....

 

...been saying it all along....

 

...a travesty......

 

...total disregard for the safety of those invited to come and spend their money....

[The man from udon]

forget all that nonsense about more safety on the beaches....where's the 240 million baht scheme for wifi for all the beaches that someone come up with last week.

[Beachdude]

Mainly inexperienced people disregarding warning flags and who have little or no awareness of ocean conditions. Also in most ocean areas prone to rips and lots of water movement entering the water over ones knees is limited to specific well defined areas and this is strictly enforced by lifeguards .

Also if bathers go out too far they are whistled in. 

 

Novices see videos of people riding 30 foot waves and think they can handle 3 foot waves but they get caught up in rips and currents and quickly tire. 

 

The ocean mjst must be respected. 

[exppenang]

On 13/01/2017 at 10:13 AM, edwinchester said:

CPR on the crotch?

 

Hey Edwin,

 

Just a FYI here. The lifeguard you see with a hand on the victims "crotch" is actually feeling for a femoral pulse. This is standard precedure during CPR performed by professional rescuers. A second lifeguard who is hidden in the photo is performing chest compressions.

Lame dig on the lifeguards who are just trying to do their job. When was the last time you did CPR on a person?

Edited February 3, 2017 by exppenang

[thaiman]

Why do international organizations always stick their noses in Thai affairs? 

[Panda13]

CPR on the crotch?
 

Well, that's how they do it in prison !

[petermik]

7 hours ago, thaiman said:

Why do international organizations always stick their noses in Thai affairs? 

They are trying to drag a third world country into the present day