Survival Swimming Knowledge of School-Age Children (5-9 years old) and the Operation Mechanism of MERIT MAKER TEAM (Copper Level) of Regional Health 12 in 2019

Abstract

This descriptive study was conducted by quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate knowledge about survival swimming of school-age children (5-9 years old) and explored the operation mechanism of MERIT MAKER TEAM (Copper level) to prevent child drowning in Regional Health 12. Participants were 568 school-age children (5-9 years old) studying in primary schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education in Regional Health 12 and also 11 MERIT MAKER TEAMs (Copper Level) in 2019. Data were collected by using survival swimming evaluation forms and interview guidelines linked to the operation mechanism of MERIT MAKER TEAM. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. The results revealed that:

1. there were 58.27% of students having knowledge about survival swimming at a moderate level which most correct answer was about water safety linking to “When going to play in the water, you should go with your parents or guardians” with 98.77%. However, the lowest percentage of practical survival in the water was "The ability to swim in any postures for 25 meters" with 23.77%. In addition, more than 50% percent of the participants did not know that buckets of water, baby bathtubs and cooler boxes can cause drowning in children (53.0%) and also may jump into the water immediately to help drowning people based on their swimming ability (55.11%).

2. the operation mechanism of MERIT MAKER TEAM to prevent drowning started with the case of child drowning death occur in the area. The local administrative organizations and the public health organizations then provided the information reporting to community for problem awareness. The preventive strategies were set by integrated and related sectors which included activities linked to surveying and managing risk water sources, providing warning signs/life vest equipment and health education in communities/public health facilities/schools, teaching swimming for life survival, resuscitation and how to give essential communication. Most of MERIT MAKER TEAM agreed that swimming courses for life survival was the best way to reduce child drowning deaths.

There were key successful and effective factors related to this situation including: providing or reporting the information to community for problem recognition; having strong networks involving public and private sectors, volunteers and local people; and assigning schools and local administrative organizations to participate and take path in leading, running, continuing the project for further extending and sustaining the operation.