Ernakulam DDMA plans measures to prevent student drowning incidents

In an effort to address incidents of student drownings in the district, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Ernakulam, is preparing a proposal to implement effective drowning prevention measures.

With mandatory swimming classes not being a viable option due to the recent cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis, the focus would instead be on strengthening awareness and education programmes to prevent drowning-related fatalities, said an official at the DDMA. 

Early this month, a 17-year-old drowned in the Periyar river. According to the Cheranalloor police, a group of three students reached the southern side of Chittoor ferry by evening and two of the students in the group decided to take the plunge. “They decided to race each other, following which one of them drowned in the river. The body of the teen was found later near Kothad ferry, after two days of search,” the police official said. As many as three such drowning instances involving youngsters have occurred within the police station limits this year. 

The DDMA official said that the organisation along with the Fire department has been carrying out drowning awareness programmes every year in schools which also involves giving training in first-aid treatment. “Despite these awareness campaigns, the number of drowning deaths keeps increasing. These incidents happen because of carelessness, inability to assess the depth of the waterbody, etc. We were planning to introduce swimming classes but because of the recent cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis, this had to be abandoned. So we are focusing on creating awareness among students,” said a DDMA official. 

Some of the suggestions included in the proposal involve installing proper warning signages in designated spots to prevent drowning incidents, placing floating devices in these spots, creating videos and exhibiting them in schools, etc. 

“We are planning to focus not just on students and schools but on adults as well. Often the drowning incidents occur among visitors rather than locals, as they may not be aware of the depth of these waterbodies. So proper signages will be helpful,” said the official.