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Aussie lessons for Bangladesh lifeguards Aussie lessons for Bangladesh lifeguards
(3 days later)
Many children in Bangladesh drown swimming in waterways near their homes. By Mark Dummett BBC News, Bangladesh Many children in Bangladesh drown swimming in waterways near their homes By Mark Dummett BBC News, Bangladesh
Australians are helping to train Bangladesh's first ever lifeguards in a bid to cut the huge number of drownings which occur every year.Australians are helping to train Bangladesh's first ever lifeguards in a bid to cut the huge number of drownings which occur every year.
A recent study discovered that drowning is the leading cause of death for Bangladeshi children - 17,000 lose their lives annually, while 68,000 have close escapes.A recent study discovered that drowning is the leading cause of death for Bangladeshi children - 17,000 lose their lives annually, while 68,000 have close escapes.
Researchers worry that these numbers could become much higher in coming decades due to the likely impact of climate change.Researchers worry that these numbers could become much higher in coming decades due to the likely impact of climate change.
Bangladesh is already one of the wettest countries in the world - it has 700 rivers and a huge area is flooded during the monsoon every year.Bangladesh is already one of the wettest countries in the world - it has 700 rivers and a huge area is flooded during the monsoon every year.
But a rise in sea levels, caused by global warming, threatens to make things much worse. Scientists fear that millions of homes along the coast could be engulfed.But a rise in sea levels, caused by global warming, threatens to make things much worse. Scientists fear that millions of homes along the coast could be engulfed.
One of my friends fell down in the water, but because I was too small to lift him I couldn't save him Anis, 8One of my friends fell down in the water, but because I was too small to lift him I couldn't save him Anis, 8
The annual rains could also become more erratic, and cyclones more violent and more frequent.The annual rains could also become more erratic, and cyclones more violent and more frequent.
"Climate change will obviously have a great impact on drowning," Dr Aminur Rahman of the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB) which conducted the survey, told the BBC."Climate change will obviously have a great impact on drowning," Dr Aminur Rahman of the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB) which conducted the survey, told the BBC.
"Children will become more exposed and obviously if we do not take proper action now, lots of drownings could happen.""Children will become more exposed and obviously if we do not take proper action now, lots of drownings could happen."
Swimming skillsSwimming skills
Members of the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia are now working with the UN's Children Fund and the CIPRB to do something about this.Members of the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia are now working with the UN's Children Fund and the CIPRB to do something about this.
"Unfortunately, while Bangladesh is surrounded by water, a lot of the people, particularly the children, are not familiar with some basic swimming and life saving skills," Jason Phillips of RLSA said."Unfortunately, while Bangladesh is surrounded by water, a lot of the people, particularly the children, are not familiar with some basic swimming and life saving skills," Jason Phillips of RLSA said.
Life saving and water safety skills are key lessons for trainees.Life saving and water safety skills are key lessons for trainees.
"We cannot stop the Bangladeshi children from swimming in the waterways, but we can try to educate them that they should swim under supervision, and to get themselves out of an emergency when they do get in trouble in the water.""We cannot stop the Bangladeshi children from swimming in the waterways, but we can try to educate them that they should swim under supervision, and to get themselves out of an emergency when they do get in trouble in the water."
The study found that in the vast majority of cases, the drownings occurred within 20 metres of the child's home.The study found that in the vast majority of cases, the drownings occurred within 20 metres of the child's home.
Most happened in the middle of the day, when the women of the house were preparing lunch and the men were at work. Most houses in rural areas are next to rivers or ponds, and these are seldom fenced off.Most happened in the middle of the day, when the women of the house were preparing lunch and the men were at work. Most houses in rural areas are next to rivers or ponds, and these are seldom fenced off.
The result is that young children here are 80 times more likely to drown than their Australian counterparts, but Jason Philips says that the two countries do have some things in common.The result is that young children here are 80 times more likely to drown than their Australian counterparts, but Jason Philips says that the two countries do have some things in common.
"The majority of people who drown in Australia are similar to those who drown in Bangladesh. They drown in our rural locations, the dams, rivers, creeks and our ponds."The majority of people who drown in Australia are similar to those who drown in Bangladesh. They drown in our rural locations, the dams, rivers, creeks and our ponds.
"So our lifesaving and water safety skills are primarily designed to help in those sorts of emergencies," he said."So our lifesaving and water safety skills are primarily designed to help in those sorts of emergencies," he said.
His team is training 30 Bangladeshi male and female swimming instructors, whose job will then be to coach hundreds of community level lifeguards, who in turn will teach hundreds of thousands of children.His team is training 30 Bangladeshi male and female swimming instructors, whose job will then be to coach hundreds of community level lifeguards, who in turn will teach hundreds of thousands of children.
Drowning ubiquitousDrowning ubiquitous
The trainee instructors, like Masuda Akhter, are keen to learn.The trainee instructors, like Masuda Akhter, are keen to learn.
"Actually my own nephew fell into the river that runs by our house," she said."Actually my own nephew fell into the river that runs by our house," she said.
"My sister-in-law was indoors doing house work so didn't see him. But fortunately some women nearby did and then rescued him."My sister-in-law was indoors doing house work so didn't see him. But fortunately some women nearby did and then rescued him.
"Since then I have wanted to be a swimmer and I'll now be able to save many children in my village," she said."Since then I have wanted to be a swimmer and I'll now be able to save many children in my village," she said.
The UN Children's charity, Unicef, and CIPRB are also setting up day-care centres in each village where they work to supervise infants.The UN Children's charity, Unicef, and CIPRB are also setting up day-care centres in each village where they work to supervise infants.
They say that the scheme is already so successful that they are in talks with the government to replicate it across Bangladesh.They say that the scheme is already so successful that they are in talks with the government to replicate it across Bangladesh.
With 700 rivers, Bangladesh is one of the wettest countries in the world.With 700 rivers, Bangladesh is one of the wettest countries in the world.
One area where they claim lives have already been saved is Mirpur, on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka.One area where they claim lives have already been saved is Mirpur, on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka.
There, slum children like to play in a large, foul-smelling lake, surrounded by low, tin-roofed huts on bamboo stilts which lean over the water's edge.There, slum children like to play in a large, foul-smelling lake, surrounded by low, tin-roofed huts on bamboo stilts which lean over the water's edge.
All the children I talked to there knew someone who had drowned, or had come close to it themselves. Anis, who is eight, remembered one sad incident.All the children I talked to there knew someone who had drowned, or had come close to it themselves. Anis, who is eight, remembered one sad incident.
"One of my friends fell down in the water, but because I was too small to lift him I couldn't save him. An adult did finally come to help, but by that time he had already died," he said."One of my friends fell down in the water, but because I was too small to lift him I couldn't save him. An adult did finally come to help, but by that time he had already died," he said.
Anis and the other children have now had swimming and water safety lessons.Anis and the other children have now had swimming and water safety lessons.
"Now I know I can swim into the middle of lake and not drown," Anis said."Now I know I can swim into the middle of lake and not drown," Anis said.
And because this one of the hottest times of year, that is precisely what he and his friends like doing every day.And because this one of the hottest times of year, that is precisely what he and his friends like doing every day.