International Life Saving Federation

Global Drowning

Good news: drowning is falling in most nations with effective lifesaving associations. In fact the lowest drowning rates are in nations with the most mature lifesaving associations. Every nation needs a national lifesaving association and all of them should be members of ILS.

Bad news: drowning remains a leading cause of death among children and the leading single cause of child mortality (age 1-17) in low resource, densely populated Asian nations.

The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) President Dr Steve Beerman sends his sincerest condolences on behalf of the ILS Board and Member Associations to the people of Mindanao, the members of the Philippine Life Saving Society and all communities who have been impacted by the flash flooding on the island of Mindanao. Coastal communities were devastated early on Saturday in flash floods triggered by a tropical storm Washi. According to the Philippine Government more than 900 people died in the disaster, many from drowning.

At its last General Assembly, Surf Life Saving New-Zealand elected a new Board of Directors.

ILS wishes Michael Bassett-Foss, the newly elected Chairman and the new Board all the best in their endeavours. ILS wishes to thank the outgoing Chairman, Graeme Cullen and the outgoing Board for their outstanding work and their endless support of ILS.

http://www.slsnz.org.nz

Breda Collins has been appointed as the national chairperson of the Irish Water Safety Association (IWS). She has been involved with IWS for 25 years and has been on the Council of IWS for two terms. She is a Senior Risk Assessment Tutor with ILSE and has Chaired the Lifesaving Commission of IWS since 2006.