Life Saving Association launches Inaugural Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Report
View(s):The Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka and Life Saving Victoria recently hosted the launch of the inaugural Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Report for Sri Lanka. Developed in collaboration with Life Saving Victoria and the World Health Organisation, the report analyses the prevalence of drowning related deaths in Sri Lanka and the need for water safety.
Sri Lanka has one of the highest drowning rates internationally, ranking 12th highest in a comparison of 61 countries, and 10th highest when compared to 35 Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). On average, 855 people drown in Sri Lanka each year, a drowning rate of 4.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (from 2001-2006 and in 2009).Given issues with reporting, these figures may be even higher. The impact of these deaths on family, friends, rescue and response personnel and the entire community is immeasurable.
The report combines statistical data with information gathered during focus groups with rescuers and responders to drowning incidents from each of the provinces in Sri Lanka. In addition, organisations that were involved in drowning prevention activities in Sri Lanka in the past 10 years (2004-2014) were also surveyed.
The report recommends ten areas of focus that are mandatory in the coming years including teaching basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills to ‘at-risk’ groups, training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation, implementing drowning prevention public awareness campaigns to ‘at-risk’ groups, continuing to develop lifesaving services operation, developing a national water safety plan, improving research capability, harnessing the value of tourism from lifesaving, controlling access to water and/or providing safety warnings, developing guidelines for safe swimming pool operation and building resilience and managing flood risks.
The report also outlines the important work being done by a number of non-profit organisations, government agencies, armed forces and schools, to prevent drowning, and highlights key areas of focus for the future.
President, Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka, Sanath Wijayaratne, spoke of the collaborations and programmes that have been developed and carried out locally while Chief Guest at the event, High Commissioner of Australia, Robyn Mudie commended the progress made and the planning, cooperation and collaboration to further this common cause.
General Manager Commercial Services, Life Saving Victoria, Mevan Jayawardena, spoke of the three values that exemplify the Life Saving Association in Sri Lanka – Courage, Knowledge and Care. The launch was followed by an impressive demonstration by Life Savers from the national Coastguard as well as Ananda and Nalanda Colleges. To download the report, or learn more about the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka visit www.srilankalifesaving.lk