Tell the children to shout for help

I REFER to the news reports on the drowning incident in Sungai Selangor that took the lives of seven boys aged 10 to 12 years recently. This tragedy could have been prevented.

The Perak Clinical Research Centre (CRC) has conducted extensive research on drowning in children over many years. The key facts are:

> 500 children drown every year in Malaysia;

> Drowning is the second most common cause of death in children aged one to 18; and

> Half of these deaths are due to children trying to save other children.

Over the years, we have communicated our data, reports and publications to the relevant government agencies, NGOs, and media and also tried to bring them to the attention of all parents.

See: http://www.tandfonline. com/doi/full/10.1080/17457300.2013 .792284 http://www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention2011.org/ SiteMedia/w3svc1092/Uploads/ Documents/WCDP2011_LMIC_HSS_ p79_Abstract.pdf

Our data and efforts have helped to advocate for the setting-up of a National Drowning Safety Council and, recently, the establishment of a National Childhood Drowning Registry (at our CRC). However, these messages have yet to reach the wider public.

Every parent needs to know the size of this problem and, more importantly, the following message needs to be communicated to all children.

1. No child should attempt to save any other child who is drowning.

2. You are not a hero if you try and save someone who is drowning.

3. You are not a villain or a failure if you did not try to save someone who is drowning.

4. If you see someone who is drowning, you should call for an adult to help; don’t jump in yourself.

We could possibly reduce by half all childhood drowning in the country and save 250 children a year just with this message.

It is important that all government agencies, schools, the media and parents disseminate this important message to all children.

The media in particular must also refrain from praising a child as a hero for saving another child from drowning; it is a dangerous act for any child to do.

Let every parent speak to their children about this important cause of death and the key message of getting help and not jumping in.

Drowning is the second most common cause of death in children aged one to 18.