Top killer of kids under 15: Drowning

10 ตุลาคม 2559

Already 327 child drowning deaths this month with October always a dangerous month nationwide for children swimming in ponds & rivers.

SAFETY

Drowning top killer of kids under 15

10/10/2016
Post Reporters

Drowning is the leading cause of death of Thai children aged under 15 years.

There are about three drownings a day in recent years, the Ministry of Public Health's figures reveal.

The ministry's deputy permanent secretary and spokesman, Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoen, spoke publicly about the problem yesterday.

Note that public signs from around the world used to warn people of drowning risks take a variety of forms stressing different dangerous aspects of bodies of water such as fast or deep water, shifting sand or shallow water that is dangerous for people diving into the water:

SWIMMING IN RIVERS, PONDS & CREEKS UNSUPERVISED BY PARENTS

Drownings mostly occurred during school holidays which fall during the rainy season as many children gather to swim at rivers, ponds and creeks, unsupervised by parents, according to Dr Suwanchai.

However, the children usually have no idea how deep the water is or how swift the currents are.

While swimming children are prone to being swept away by currents and floods.

OCTOBER IS THE DANGEROUS MONTH FOR CHILD DROWNINGS

The number of child drownings peaks in October when there are school breaks. This is the peak of the rainy season when children go swimming.

A total of 1,101 children had drowned during the month of October from 2006 to 2015.

However, drownings during October last year fell by half compared to 2014.

So far this October, 327 children have drowned.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PREVENT DEATHS

In a bid to prevent drownings, Dr Suwanchai advised the private sector and public sector and local communities to consider precautionary measures against water- related accidents.

He suggested warning signs and barriers should be erected and children always be supervised when they go swimming.