The Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka urges the general public to refrain from swimming in unknown pools and water bodies while holidaying or engaging in excursions.
Speaking to NewsRadio, President of the Association Asanka Nanayakkara noted that a majority of the incidents that have been reported in the recent past had been due to individuals swimming in unknown bodies of water.
Nanayakkara also pointed out that it is a dangerous act for people who are unable to swim to get into water bodies to save a person who is drowning.
He said if someone is drowning, it is important that those in the vicinity who are unable to swim seek help by shouting or making loud noises, while those on the banks or ashore throw objects for the person who is drowning to hold onto until help arrives.
The President of the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka stressed that it is important that the public follow guidelines and periodic warnings issued by experts and relevant state departments.
Asanka Nanayakkara meanwhile stressed that the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka had been proposing for several years to include measures to prevent diving accidents in school textbooks, but had not received a positive response.
He said from 2014 they have been requesting education authorities to include specific materials in textbooks.
Asanka Nanayakkara said it is important that children are aware of first aid practices, measures to prevent diving related incidents and also dealing with adverse weather conditions as citizens encounter water bodies frequently since Sri Lanka is a tropical island.
