Just this week two youngsters have lost their lives in tragic
drowning accidents. A four year old Balinese boy died after
falling into an unguarded well, and a two year old expatriate
boy drowned in a friend’s pool. The expatriate community
is still humming with the sighs of shock, sadness and disbelieve
at the loss of this little boy. Time and time again I hear
comments like “how could this happen?”, “why
wasn’t someone watching?” blah blah blah.
So how does this happen? Easy. Let me recount the time I was
relaxing with my teenage son at the Hardrock Hotel. We were
in the pool leaning with our backs against the wall watching
a juggler do his thing when I was suddenly showered with sand.
I looked behind me to see a toddler merrily playing, finding
great amusement by dumping sand on my head! This carried on
for a few minutes and then stopped. I would not have given
this another thought had my son not screamed at me, directing
my attention to the little boy who was by this time at the
bottom of the pool not even a meter from my leg.
By this time the boy’s mother was eagerly searching
for the child as I dragged him to the surface coughing and
spluttering. The boy was no more than a little upset by the
incident and was soon playing happily in the sand again.
Had my son not seen this boy, I would have continued to watch
the sideshow, and by the time the juggler had finished the
act, by the time the boys mother had located the boy, it would
have been all over, too late, the boy would have been dead,
not more than a hands reach from me.
THIS is how it happens. When children fall into pools they
slip in quietly, with hardly a splash. They become silent
shadows in the depths below the distorted light of the rippling
water on the surface of the pool. In three minutes (less than
the time it takes you to read this article) it’s all
over. IT’S SO EASY. So before you accuse and condemn
parents, caregivers, guardian’s etc give some consideration
to just how easily this can happen.
So how do we stop this? How do we avoid this tragedy that
is the number one killer of children under five years of age
even in Australia where stringent pool regulations are in
force? In all honestly accidents will never stop, but we must
do whatever we can to reduce the risk, to give these kids
the best chance at avoiding tragedy.
It’s time for pool owners to take responsibility and
fence in their pools. Come on guys, I know it may spoil the
aesthetics of your landscape garden features, the angles of
your designer paras patios but its time to take the reigns.
We all know it’s just too easy on this Island. We don’t
really have to wear a helmet on a motor bike; we don’t
really have to wear a seat belt because Rp 50,000 to the police
will get you off the hook. In this society the onus is on
YOU to take responsibility for your own safety, and the safety
of others because the rules are just not there, or can be
easily bent or broken.
With these simple rules tragedy need never happen
Home pools and wells remember to:
· GET A FENCE – Around the pool, pond, or well.
If you can afford a pool (or to rent a property that has one)
you can afford a fence. If the pool is hardly used, empty
it and cover it with a canvas.
· Watch young children EVERY second, and if you need
time out, pass the duty on to someone that you know will be
diligent. Don’t expect other children to do this, they
do not have the ability or attention span.
· If there is a group of you around the pool, elect
one person to be pool guard. They should give their undivided
attention to the water. Do this in 30 minute shifts so everyone
gets a turn to relax.
· Shut the pool gate and lock it.
· Don’t push people into the pool.
· Don’t leave toys in the pool, they attract
young children.
· Empty all buckets, and paddle pools after playing.
At community swimming pools remember to:
· Obey signs giving advice to swimmers.
· Listen to the pool lifeguards.
· Stay away from the deep end, unless you can swim
well.
· Check for swimmers before jumping in.
· l Do not run around the pool edge.
Don’t forget to educate children and staff on pool safety,
and have yourself and your staff trained in basic first aid.
“Kim Patra is a qualified Registered Nurse and Midwife
that has been living and working in Bali for almost twenty
years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral
service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any
health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail
at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000”.
