Lack of understanding on dynamics of drowning

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I READ with great interest the article that you covered on “MPP to make Giam waterfall safer” in today’s (May 11) edition of The Borneo Post. First, give me a few moments to introduce a bit about myself and why I am writing this email to you.

Every now and then, we hear and read about so and so drowned or lost their lives while fishing, picnicking at their local favorite water recreation area or some school kids losing their lives while using our many rivers and water ways on their holiday break or even on their way to schools. As a matter of fact, I have a personal interest in all these cases that involve drowning. For the last few years, I have more or less come to understand that in most of the cases, it was a combination of being at the wrong place at the wrong time kind of situation.

I have been a volunteer officer in one of the Government Emergency Services agency since 2001 and have covered many drowning cases far and wide in Sarawak. The most important thing that Padawan Municipal Council must not forget is the human factor that always contributes to such accidents. I have even brought some divers from a government rescue agency not too long ago and I have personally searched and scoured every inch underwater of the area where the two lives were lost.

Years back, local folklore told about the place having a “penunggu” or spirits who live in a cave underneath the waterfall area but I have already proved and can prove again that it’s not only the place that is to be blamed but the lack of understanding on the dynamics of drowning.

When doing water activity, or swimming for that matter, I have always noticed that people don’t understand why we need to wear proper attire. You can’t swim with your sport track pants and cotton shirt period. The track pants have elastic bands at the ankle area and these will trap the water in the pants thus making the person unable to stay afloat. Also, the cotton T-shirt will absorb water and makes the person sink. These two factors and other miscalculations like swimming after eating meals and after heavy rain when water is super cool, will lead to disaster with deadly results. Like the saying goes, “Pandai pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga” can be applied here for even the strongest swimmers will tell you how they nearly drowned once. I am one of them.

Thus said, human factor like not understanding the dynamics of why people drown in water and proper education and enforcement of rules like no swimming after heavy down pour and wearing proper swim attire or materials like lycra that does not absorb water will at least help. If the council wants to further make the water recreation area safer, train and place people at these spots with certified water rescuer and CPR practitioner. I am sure the public will not mind paying some entry fees if they can come there with their love ones for a happy outing knowing some trained help is nearby, in case.

No use to point fingers every time something happens like the two recent victims and I am sure that once people understand the do’s and don’ts when swimming, lives will be saved.

Cheers,
Mohd Amin Abdullah