DROWNING PREVENTION IN THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGION

FIG. 1. Four strategies and six interventions for drowning prevention

Strategies

Develop a national water safety plan Advance drowning prevention through data collection and well-designed studies

Promote multisectoral collaboration Strengthen public awareness of drowning through strategic communications

Interventions

Provide safe places (for example, a day-care centre) away from water for preschool children, with capable childcare

Install barriers controlling access to water Train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation

Build resilience and manage flood risks and other hazards locally and nationally

Teach school-age children swimming and water safety skills Set and enforce safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations

At the community level, it is important to ensure that young children are appropriately supervised around water. Installing barriers can control children’s access to water in cases of absent or inadequate supervision. Teaching children aged over 6 years swimming and water safety skills is particularly relevant for school settings, while training in safe

5 Ibid. rescue and resuscitation is applicable to the broader population. Working with communities to strengthen resilience to floods and other hazards is necessary, particularly with world flood risk expected to rise over time.5 Approaches to making travel over water safer include setting and enforcing boating, shipping and ferry regulations.