Drowning remains leading cause of death for Thai children during school holidays

Photo: Coconuts Media
Photo: Coconuts Media

Statistics reveal that drowning has been the leading cause of death among one- to 14-year-old children in Thailand over the past ten years.

Yesterday, associate professor Adisak Plitponkarnpim, the director of the National Institute for Child and Family Development, revealed the stark statistics about the issue and provided safety tips with the goal of lowering this alarming mortality rate.

Between 2007 and 2017, there were over 9,574 fatal drowning cases involving children under 15, which averages to about 957 children per year or a shocking three kids per day.

At the highest point during this period, drowning caused about 56 percent of children deaths, followed by road accidents at 25 percent and falling from great heights at 8 percent, reported TNN.

The number of fatal drowning is, reportedly, highest during the months long Thai school holidays.

Last year, drowning caused 740 children deaths, said Adisak. Of those, 75 cases occurred in October during the annual mid-year holiday.

Most drowning incidents occur within a child’s own community and near their homes since swimming and water safely are not widely taught in Thai schools.

“When kids start going off on their own … we must teach them safety skills to protect themselves. This is different from when they’re little and parents are solely responsible for their well being,” explained Adisak.

The associate professor said he believes children over the age of four must develop essential skills in order to survive in the contemporary world such as learning to reject offers from strangers, identifying nearby risks and threats, learning to cross the road on their own, and first aid.

In regards to the adults’ responsibilities, he said communities must develop systems to keep tabs on where their children are and where they are planning to go even in their own neighborhoods.

“The community has to develop a system to watch out for one another.”



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