Swim safe this summer

Monitor your kids while they take to the water to prevent accidents.

Increasing incidents of children drowning have prompted the Abu Dhabi Police to an launch awareness drive to safeguard kids. Parents have been urged to be vigilant while allowing children to use swimming pools in their homes or swimming on beaches.
Police said swimming pools are usually too deep for children, which increases the dangers of drowning should the child fall into the pool.
As part of the "Our Children" initiative, the police told families wishing to build swimming pools in their homes to adhere to the safety and security procedures associated with pools. Building pools in a safe place in the yard is one such. 
Incidents of drowning have been reported at beaches, homes and public swimming pools over the past years, despite continued measures by authorities to keep the recreation places safe for swimmers, especially during the summer. In many cases, authorities have attributed the drowning, especially of children, to negligence, failure by swimmers to abide by rules and regulations and lack of safety measures at some facilities. 
A report issued early this year by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health for the period between 2015 and 2016 on preventable child deaths, had singled out drowning, falls and burns as main causes of death among children.
In the latest incident of drowning, a seven-year-old boy drowned at an Abu Dhabi beach in April.
The Abu Dhabi Police reported that the boy's eight-year-old brother, who was also swimming at the beach, sustained moderate injuries and was treated at Al Rahba Hospital. Police said the emergency rescue teams gave CPR to the two victims after pulling them from the water. The younger brother, who was in critical condition unfortunately died.
In September 2017, four children, including two brothers, drowned in the pond at a farm in Al Bahia area of Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Police said the incident occurred on the third day of Eid Al Adha, when the boys, including a 12-year-old Emirati and three Arabs aged 10, 11 and 12, from the same family were playing around the big pond that was used for raising fish.
In April 2017, a 12-year-old boy was drowned while playing in a water canal in Al Ain.

Safety at public beaches

In an effort to protect the beachgoers and ensure their safety this summer, the Abu Dhabi Municipality has set up amenities and services that adhere to health and safety requirements. 
"Abu Dhabi beaches have been ranked among the best beaches worldwide thanks to the paramount attention paid by the municipality to beach visitors. The civic body charted beach safety guidelines to raise awareness of visitors and reduce accidents and injuries," said a municipality statement.
The municipality is also distributing awareness leaflets among beachgoers and park visitors, including safety and prevention measures and first aid instructions that provide treatment before the arrival of paramedics.
There are lifeguards manning the public beaches, restricted and unrestricted swimming areas are marked off and warning flags are erected.
Similarly, in public pools, guidelines stipulate that there should be an adequate number of safety equipment, life ring, first aid box, resuscitation mask etc. It is also mandatory to regularly monitor the quality of pool water to keep it clear, hygienic and safe without the presence of any objects that could harm swimmers.

Safeguarding pool visitors

Hotel swimming pools are another vulnerable spot for children and adults as well. When Khaleej Times spoke to hotels in Abu Dhabi, they said they follow strict safety standards to ensure the safety of their guests.
Shahul Hameed, manager of environmental health and safety at Dusit Thani hotel Abu Dhabi, said: "We give top priority to the health and safety of our guests through complying with local regulations. A safety officer or lifeguard is always present at the swimming pool during the operation timings to monitor swimmers and ensure they are safe.
"And prior to using the swimming pools, the lifeguard gives the safety tips and instructions to guests and visitors, including the depth of the water, what to do in case you feel uncomfortable or something while inside the water, how to alert the lifeguard in case you want help, how to wear a life jacket for the case of children or adults that don't know how to swim, extra."
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE

Ismail Sebugwaawo

• ismail@khaleejtimes.com