The months of April and May are the peak of the hot season in the Philippines.
This year, most parts of the country are experiencing extreme heat as reflected in the heat index forecasts issued by the state weather bureau.
In the Ilocos Region, the city of Dagupan, Pangasinan recently experienced the scorching heat of 47 degrees Celsius.
Surely, many Filipinos can be commonly found in various bodies of water, aside from indulging in refreshing cold treats, trying to beat the heat.
With this, the Department of Health – Center for Health Development 1, cautions the public to engage in water activities safely and that drowning incidents are not inevitable.
“Summer getaway is fun but may we all be responsible for our own or family’s safety while we enjoy different water activities,” Nurse V Francisco De Vera of DOH CHD-1 said over an episode of PIA Kapihan sa Ilocos.
Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death in the globe according to the World Health Organization.
In the Ilocos Region, drowning incidents spiked to 53 cases in 2023, a double of cases compared to the 24 incidents reported in 2022.
De Vera stated that most of the victims of drowning in the region are non-swimmers.
Given the topography of the region, most of the drowning incidents are logged on beaches.
“Non-swimmers are not prohibited from enjoying the water activities but are strongly advised to only stay in depths they can manage and refrain from trying deep waters,” De Vera said.
Also, De Vera noted that children are the most vulnerable age group in drowning.
As such, he calls for parents and guardians to always check and monitor the status and welfare of their children when near bodies of water.
De Vera noted that precautions such as installing barriers controlling access to water; close supervision of parents and guardians among children, and availability of life jackets in bodies of water are of great help to avoid drowning incidents.
He warned adults to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages before or during a swimming activity.
On the other hand, he also emphasized the importance of knowing basic life support to be able to respond in times of emergency and prevent death due to drowning.
The public must know how to quickly move the victim away from water, check responsiveness, open an airway to check for breathing, practice cardio-pulmonary resuscitation if the victim has no breathing, and place the victim in a recovery position afterward.
“We have to act promptly and calmly and always bear in mind that every second counts,” De Vera said.
DOH CHD-1 calls for the public to be water-smart and help attain zero drowning incidents.
Meanwhile, the health bureau is capacitating health providers across local government units about basic life support for the latter to cascade the same training among multipliers at the barangay level. (JCR/MJTAB/CGC, PIA Region 1)
