Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Helpcode seeks to stop drownings

Helpcode seeks to stop drownings

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Children playing in the Mekong River on May 30. POST STAFF

Helpcode seeks to stop drownings

Helpcode Cambodia is planning a July 24-26 leaflet campaign on water safety, the basics of swimming and how to prevent drowning to visitors to the coastal areas of Preah Sihanouk and Kampot provinces.

Chey Ratana, technical director of the international NGO, told The Post on July 20 that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set July 25 as World Drowning Prevention Day, and Helpcode Cambodia is marking the date with this campaign. For 2022, the day will be observed with the theme “Do one thing to prevent drowning” to encourage all communities globally to pay more attention to preventing drowning.

Ratana said the number of people drowning is increasing year on year, adding that the leaflets are specifically aimed at tourists who may have no experience swimming in the ocean.

“Anyone can drown, but few people think it could happen to them. This is why hundreds of thousands of people die every year,” he said.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death worldwide for people aged 1-24. Every year, about 236,000 people drown, according to data published by the WHO this week.

It showed that more than 90 per cent of drowning occurred in low and middle income countries, with children under the age of 5 at the highest risk.

In Cambodia last year, drowning rose to 1,113, representing 1.24 per cent of all deaths in the country. This figure places Cambodia 12th in the world, according to the WHO.

“These deaths are often associated with daily activities such as bathing, fetching water, boating and fishing. The effects of seasonal weather events, including monsoons, are also frequent causes of drowning,” said the report.

However, it noted that most of these deaths were preventable, through better assessments of conditions and the installation of water access barriers. Other solutions include providing a safe place away from deep water for preschool children to receive swimming lessons, and safe rescue techniques.

Identifying and enforcing safe boating solutions, stricter regulation of commercial ferries and improved flood risk management were also recommended.

Helpcode Cambodia has been implementing water safety and drowning prevention programmes since 2018, and is cooperating with the Preah Sihanouk provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sport to run its programmes there.

Ratana said that by the end of this year, the organisation will have provided water safety and first aid training to 3,000 children in various communities in Preah Sihanouk and Kampot.

“Our organisation is continuing its mission to prevent drowning and to keep Cambodian children and their families safe and happy in and around the water,” he said.

In three consecutive days, July 18-20, six people drowned in Cambodia, including two in Siem Reap province and one each in Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Thom, Kampong Chhnang and Battambang. In June, six children drowned in ponds and streams.

Regarding the drowning, Soth Kimkolmony, spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management, called on people living in the lowlands along rivers, lakes, canals and the ocean to increase their vigilance. Families should be especially watchful of children, the elderly and pregnant women and make sure they stay away from water.

At the same time, he urged all public servants, especially the armed forces, to be ready to rescue people affected by flooding.

He noted that the committee does not record all drowning deaths.

“Generally, we collect data on drowning deaths only during floods. We do not record other drownings as they are deemed accidents, and not linked to natural disasters,” he said.

Flooding in 2021 caused the deaths of 14 people, he noted.

MOST VIEWED

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.