The Roles of Lifeguards in Mitigating Drowning Incidents in Thailand
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Abstract
Drowning is a major cause of unintentional death globally, posing significant public health implications that greatly impact economies and societies. According to the World Health Organization (2014), an estimated 91% of drowning incidents occur in countries with low to middle incomes levels. In Thailand, data shows that children under 15 years old have a mortality rate from drowning ranging from 5 to 8.6 per 100,000 population.
The International Life Saving Federation has identified several noteworthy risk factors, which includes the following: lack of knowledge, understanding, and negligence towards potential threats, as well as insufficient information and unrestricted access to hazardous areas, lack of survival skills when facing emergency situations, lack of supervision and vigilance, and other risk factors that may occur simultaneously.
Therefore, in areas with high risk of drowning incidents, it is crucial to have the presence of skilled personnel who can promptly assess risks and provide assistance. Additionally, drowning statistics in the area should be collected to utilize the data for planning prevention measures and reducing potential risks in the future.
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