We are now hearing and seeing the effects of a major aquatic disaster impacting many countries and thousands of people, animals, structures and concepts.
There are over fifty thousands drowing deaths and over one hundred thousend water related accident injuries. The power and force of water has shown the world, again, that its impact can change many things in an instant.
The International Life Saving Federation must observe this closely, help if we can, and learn what we could do to assist with the action plans, prevention services, injury reduction strategy, medical management etc. Our thoughts and wishes go out to the victims and their families and communities.
Our hearts, our thoughts and our best wishes must also got to the official and many unofficial rescuers. To those so valiantly working to assist the injured, reduce further loss and improve the physical and mental wellbeing for survivors, we must have a special bond and awareness.
The ILS needs to be mindful of this as we proceed with our plans and business. Some of our focus to date has been on the small side of the impact spectrum. We should seek ways and means to have larger impact on the lives and health of individuals and communities who are inflicted with aquatic disasters.
Throughout the world, disaster falls with staggering impact when least invited and under the most challenging of circumstance. Concerns about the position of the body, lateral versus back, up, down or sideways on the beach, the rules of AED’s, the Heimlich versus chest thrust, Intensive Care Unit versus community hospital management etc, seem now of lower importance. Effective warning communication and fast searching and rescue systems, when most of the designated system and personnel have been destroyed by the event, seems important.
Those of us who think of ourselves as informed, experienced lifesavers are overwhelmed contemplating this kind of natural disaster. It might have been considered predictable, and some of the drowning death and water related morbitity may have been prevented or reduced? Many people are being rescued and the how and by whom is interesting and hopefully educational.
The international life saving community may use what is to be learned from these events to re-focus our efforts and priorites on the truely impacting aquatic disasters. Backyard pool drownings are important and totally preventable – when compared to this real international aquatic disaster. We need to learn from large population impact disasters, what is really important and what is less helpful. Many of us are feeling very unhelpful to our resucing, medical and support system life savers is the areas impacted by the current aquatic disaster. A Disaster Commission/Committee may flow out of the first World Drowning Report. This seems like a step that may lead to high impact.
Our very best wishes need to be extended to those involved in aquatic disaster!!
A time for our thoughts – and a time for our thinking.
(Author: Steve Beerman)
