Every year, about 300 children die of drowning, but not all the deaths happen in rivers or pools, says a professor who has researched the statistics.
Associate Professor Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani of Univerisiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Safe Kids Malaysia said that according to research on the issue, children aged four and below are at risk of drowning, even in the relative safety of the bathrooms in their homes.
“Drowning happens when you have excessive liquids entering your airways. All you need is a few centimetres of water for a child to drown,” the organisation’s executive director told The Star Online‘s Justin Zack.
He said danger zones at home that could lead to drowning incidents include bathtubs, toilets, and even exposed water buckets, and cited the case of a 19-month old toddler who drowned after falling into a bucket of water while his mother left him to look for a towel.
He urged parents to keep bathrooms locked when not in use, as their children might wander into them unattended out of curiosity.
Dr Kulanthayan also cautioned parents to keep a close eye on their children when visiting swimming pools, as not all such faciities have professional supervision at hand.
“Some might feel it is okay to leave their children alone or with older children after multiple visits if they have undergone swimming classes. Parent supervision should always be there.
“Not every pool has lifeguards at all times.”
The World Health Organisation reported that 372,000 people die from drowning every year, with over half under the age of 25.
It also stated that drowning was the third leading killer of children, just after HIV and meningitis.
