WATER safety experts have issued a fresh alert to parents following the reopening of pools and the lure of a sunshine splash in the sea.
The call becomes all the more important as summer is catching up and Bahrain has relaxed coronavirus restrictions.
Bahrain’s pioneering water safety initiative Royal Live Saving Bahrain (RLSB) today urged families not to risk children’s lives by leaving them unattended at beaches, or in or near swimming pools, reiterating that a child can drown in 20 seconds.
“It is important more than ever that parents ensure children are being supervised correctly at all times when in and around water,” RLSB general manager Sam Rahman told the GDN.
“On average, 16 to 20 lives are lost to drowning each year in Bahrain and we believe that even one life lost, is one too many.”
The GDN reported last month that RLSB launched a summer campaign in Bahrain alerting parents on this.
The RLSB’s National Water Safety campaign #itonlytakes20seconds – aiming to save lives this summer – has been supported by Bahrain’s own social media platform wwwGDNlife.com, and sponsored by Batelco.
Its website has lots of free practical advice on how to avoid water-related accidents. (CLICK HERE TO VISIT RLSB WEBSITE)
The GDN reported in 2019 that a nationwide survey by RLSB revealed that more than 47 per cent of children in Bahrain do not know how to swim. The Water Safety Benchmarking Survey also exposed that 95pc of children do not currently learn swimming at primary schools. The survey covered a representational sample of the population with 573 people taking part, 88pc of whom were Bahrainis.
Mr Rahman outlined some useful tips for staying safe this summer, with emphasis on children’s safety while in the water.
Mr Rahman
“Children under five must be within arms’ reach of an adult, while those under 10 must be within clear sight always,” he said.
“To protect yourself from drowning and the summer, wear appropriate swimwear, as normal clothing absorbs water, use sun cream and top it up every hour, and also avoid the hottest time of the day.
“It is ideal to wear a hat and keep a life jacket on.”
He also shared some practical tips to avoid drowning in and around the home, which includes not to leave anything in the swimming pool and to empty a paddling pool, as soon as the family is done with playing.
“Install barriers or locks to prevent children from gaining access and educate your children on water safety,” he said. “Take it in turns to supervise children and don’t assume someone-else is watching.
“If you spotted someone drowning, don’t jump into the water, even if you know how to swim – reach out to rescue the person using a household item. It could be a broom, a bucket, a ball, a rope or even an empty plastic bottle – we call these, ‘Improvised Rescue Aids’.”
Meanwhile, Mr Rahman said that the #itonlytakes20seconds campaign has been well-received by the public, with an overwhelming response on social media platforms.
“With the support we have received from GDNlife, the campaign reached more than 800,000 people.
“One of the most important aspects of the campaign is enabling us to put 100 people through our Swim for Safety programme this summer, thanks to Batelco.”
Interested people can register on the RLSB website, and 100 names will be selected at random. The programme teaches essential survival swimming skills including treading water, floating and moving to a point of safety. Participants will also learn how to assist a person who is drowning, without endangering themselves.
Mr Rahman reminded that swimming is the one sport that might also save life, adding it was “never too late to learn”. RLSB offers 12 lesson Swim for Safety programme for anyone above eight years.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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