Since schools closed for the year-end holidays on Nov 25, there has already been six cases of drowning that claimed eight lives in several places in the country.
Expressing concern, Water Activity Safety Council member Lee Lam Thye produced statistics to illustrate the seriousness of the situation.
The social activist said data compiled by the Department of Statistics showed that an average of 596 cases of drowning have occurred every year between 2009 and 2013.
The data also indicated that almost half of the victims during that period were aged between five and 14, he told Bernama.
What’s more, Fire and Rescue Department statistics showed that an average of 700 people drowned every year in the country, particularly at places popular for its water recreation activities and picnics.
Touching on ways to prevent more such incidents from occurring, or at least to reduce its frequency, Lee suggested intensifying awareness campaigns.
He also said that the authorities and parents must play their roles as well.
“During the school holidays, there must be increased monitoring of water recreation activities, especially at places frequented by families with children.
“The authorities must conduct checks at all recreational areas under their jurisdiction to ensure they were well-maintained in terms of public safety,” he said.
He said the authorities must notify the public of unsafe areas at water recreation spots by erecting clearly visible warning signs.
Lee said several factors led to drowning, among them unrestricted access at water recreation spots, lack of preparation prior to venturing into the river or sea, uncertainties over water conditions, as well as ignorance and failure to understand the danger when in the water.
Other contributory factors were the absence of constant visual supervision as well as lack of awareness and education on water safety measures and the inability to save oneself and others during a misadventure.
Lee said the Water Activity Safety Council set up in May, had drawn up a five-year (2016-2020) action plan to encourage and step-up water safety awareness among members of the public while coordinating the compilation of data on drowning cases in the country.
The awareness programme would be targeted to not only school children but also parents and guardians to enable them to better supervise their children at water recreation spots, he said.