JOHOR BARU: THE National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has called for a comprehensive data bank on deaths by drowning.
Institute chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye called for the establishment of the data bank to be expedited by the authorities, adding that each case should contain the victim’s age, gender, location and details of the incident.
Lee said one could not take the growing number of drowning deaths lightly. He said this was especially true with cases spiking during the school holidays.
He cited the recent tragedy in Muar where eight children drowned while trying to rescue a friend who fell into a river.
Lee said the number of drowning cases ran into a few hundred nationwide annually, according to statistics by the Fire and Rescue Department.
“Currently there is no single authority that compiles and collects data on drowning incidents and issues reports annually on such tragedies.”
He said there must be more attention on the tragedies that occur at waterfalls, rivers, beaches, swimming pools and even mining pools.
“It is just unacceptable to see more drowning deaths, especially those that involve children because of negligence and lack of safety precautions or facilities provided by those responsible for public safety.”
Last Friday, a 14-year-old boy drowned after he fell into Sungai Melana in Johor Baru while trying to retrieve his slippers from the river.
The teen had gone there with four friends, all teenagers, to fish before tragedy struck at the river in Taman Universiti. The four had jumped into the river to save their friend. They managed to swim to safety although their attempts were futile.
Lee said there were many ways to prevent drowning, namely, to create awareness about the dangers of swimming in a river without knowing the currents, or without having parental supervision or lifeguards in swimming pools, among others.
Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Abdul Ghani Daud agreed with Lee that the number of drowning incidents would rise during school holidays.
“Tragedy occurs when families or friends go for a picnic by the beach. One area which comes to mind is Desaru, which is also a good spot for a picnic. However, it is also one of the top drowning spots in Johor.”
Ghani said the department did keep a record of all drowning incidents. However, he was not able to furnish Streets with the statistics.
“When the children go near the sea, parents should keep a close watch on them. Other areas which pose a danger to unsuspecting children are mining pools and rivers.
“The waters may look calm and inviting, but children are normally unaware of the conditions, such as its depth.
“And now, since it is the rainy season, it is better not to head out to drains to play as the surfaces are slippery. One wrong move can result in one falling into the river where there are strong currents.
“My advice is to be extra careful when one is near water. If there are signs saying that one should not swim in the area, then please heed the advice.”