A fresh warning has gone out to swimmers following the drowning of a man off the coast of Hidd.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the 59-year-old Bahraini, who is believed to have suffered a medical emergency while swimming.
No details are available of how the man drowned on Saturday, with experts working alongside relevant authorities to uncover the circumstances surrounding his death.
Just hours before the tragedy, the Coast Guard had issued a warning telling seafarers to be careful of high winds.
“We are working together with the authorities and reaching out to people who may know him to understand what happened,” Royal Life Saving Bahrain (RLSB) general manager Sam Rahman told the GDN.
“While it could have potentially been a medical emergency, I think we can rule out temperature-related reasons such as hypothermia because Bahrain’s waters, while chilly, are still very much swimmable during the winter.”
The GDN earlier reported results of the Water Safety Benchmarking Survey conducted by the RLSB that revealed that around 50 per cent of Bahrain’s population – both children and adults – do not know how to swim.
“Learning basic swimming and water safety skills is critical,” Mr Rahman said.
“Taking swimming lessons is very important because it can save your life,” he added.
“You can learn how to swim with as little as 12 lessons.
“Ensure that you go swimming in areas that have designated lifeguards for your own safety.
“The RLSB is currently advocating to have lifeguards on every beach in Bahrain, regardless of the season.
“On top of that, always try to swim with someone else, because swimming alone can be dangerous.”
Mr Rahman has some tips for people who decide to go swimming alone and end up with a medical emergency such as a cramp or worse.
“First of all, relax, don’t panic, keep your head up and try to breathe normally,” he said.
“Toss away anything weighing you down, roll on your back and just float, Bahrain’s water is very buoyant, so it helps in that aspect.
“While on your back, try to go towards shallow waters, if you see anyone passing by, scream for help.”
Mr Rahman encouraged people, especially children, to enrol in safety courses and programmes which would teach them how to act in case of a dangerous situation.
He also called upon people to adhere to weather warnings by authorities for their own safety.
If a person witnesses someone drowning, it is recommended to throw a flotation device or life jacket, or extend a long pole for the swimmer to hold on to.
If he or she was swimming in cold water, get blankets or help bring their body temperature back to normal.
In case they ingested too much water, authorities recommend contacting the Emergency Call Centre by dialling 999 immediately.
Trained officers will transfer the caller to the relevant personnel, who will guide them through the situation, such as by instructing them on how to do CPR.
Callers should provide clear details of the incident including number of casualties (if any), additional hazards, and the location where the drowning took place.
It is important to not end the phone call until the control officer clears the line, and not to move the affected person unless specifically told to do so.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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