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FIRST AID trainer Vicky Honar has launched the annual ‘water watcher’ campaign urging parents to beware of the dangers of swimming pools and the sea to prevent children tragically losing their lives this summer.
She also gave an audience at the Bahrain Rugby Club tips on resuscitation techniques at the weekend and details of courses available in the kingdom.
Mrs Honar, a former hospital midwife, manager and teacher, said: “Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Children can drown quickly and silently in seconds and in as little as two centimetres of water.
“Young children need to be actively supervised in, on, or near the water and although parents have a million things to do, learning CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) should be at the top of the list.
“It will give you tremendous peace of mind – the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better!”
Young children are most likely to drown in or near their own home and drowning is the third highest cause of death in children claiming the lives of approximately 4,000 each year and leaving another 12,000 with some form of permanent brain damage. Every year there are newspaper headlines about summer tragedies in Bahrain.
Three years ago GulfWeekly backed a campaign for the community to adopt an innovative ‘water watcher’ scheme after a schoolgirl was pulled unconscious from a swimming pool at a popular expat club.
Introducing the safety measure to Bahrain was the brainchild of former nurse Pam Kamal, who runs first aid courses in the kingdom with Mrs Honar.
A child was with a party of teachers welcoming new colleagues and their families to St Christopher’s School when she was spotted floating on the surface of the pool at the Dilmun Club in Saar.
Fortunately a teacher trained in resuscitation techniques by Mrs Kamal’s team was able to revive the girl who was taken by ambulance to hospital. She has recovered fully. The school now employs a lifeguard for its annual get-togethers.
Mrs Kamal, who runs the First Aid Box kiosk opposite Mothercare in Seef Mall, organises a series of sessions, courses and CPR classes.
She firmly believes the ‘water watcher’ scheme can save lives. It’s a system that can be shared by adults on a 10-minute rota-system and Mrs Kamal has even designed a bright tag for the designated ‘water watcher’ to wear so they can be clearly identified by the children playing in the pool.
As the ‘water watcher’, the adult on duty has to pledge to constantly watch the children in and near water and wait to socialise until officially relieved by the next ‘water watcher’.
Not all youngsters are as fortunate as the St Christopher’s School pupil who survived thanks to the skills of the trained first-aider. In the same year government officials and police urged parents to be more vigilant after two children died. A two-year-old drowned during a family picnic at a private pool in Busaiteen after she fell into the water while her family were just a few feet away. Her death came only six days after a 10-year-old drowned in the sea, while swimming with his brothers.
The heartbreak continues. Last year a four-year-old drowned in the sea off Al Dair beach. His father was talking to a friend when a wave dragged the child away. Despite diving into the water and taking his son to a medical centre in Muharraq it was too late to save him.
Government health chiefs have urged parents to learn first aid techniques.
