Defibrillator for every public swimming pool by end of August
www.channelnewsasia.com
July 19th, 2005
SINGAPORE : By the end of August, every public swimming
pool will have a defibrillator, and staff trained
to use them.
This is part of the Singapore Sports Council's efforts
to improve water safety measures.
There are also emergency rescue plans, daily inspection
of pools and safety equipment and rules on student-to-swimming-instructor
ratio.
All pools also have trained lifeguards on duty at
all times.
Announcing this in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister
for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian
Balakrishnan said every single death by drowning was
one too many.
Between 2001 and 2004, there was an average of 17
cases of drowning each year.
41 percent occurred at sea, 13 percent in rivers
and 10 percent in swimming pools and reservoirs.
The SSC will also work with other organisations like
the Singapore Life Saving Society to improve swimming
safety in private pools and other water-bodies.
Dr Balakrishnan said: "At the same time, SSC
is looking at encouraging more youths to learn swimming
as a life-skill. If a person is able to swim, he is
less likely to drown.
"SSC is working closely with MOE (Education
Ministry) to encourage schools to make greater use
of SSC pools for swimming lessons. SSC will also be
working closely with the Singapore Swimming Association
to encourage more Singaporeans to take up swimming."
A Childhood Injury Prevention Programme (CHIPP) under
the Health Promotion Board has also been emphasising
water safety in its preventive and public education
outreach programmes.
For 2005, CHIPP's theme is "Safety at Play".
CHIPP is disseminating swimming safety tips to parents,
caregivers and children through direct public educational
programmes such as road shows, exhibitions, educational
puppet shows, seminars, talks, interactive exhibits
and games activities. - CNA/de |
