Pics by Flavin D’Souza, Team Mangalorean
Udupi: A grace time of three to six minutes is all that a rescuer has to resuscitate a victim, who has drowned. Internationally, the number of deaths due to drowning is caused en route to the hospital, for lack of resuscitation. This and a few more facts may jolt us of our ignorance and wake us up to the possibility of savings lives, says Partha Varanasi an International swimmer and member of Rashtriya Life Saving Society.
He was speaking to media persons at Malpe beach during the distribution of certificates for short-term life-saving training programme to students organized by district administration and Malpe beach development committee on March 31.
Rashtriya Life Saving Society India is an Indian organization which has been involved in lifesaving operations in the country. It also trains persons interested and who wish to join the mission of life saving along with the experts in life saving activity at the beaches.
Australia possibly has one of the safest coastlines in the world, with both children and adults involved in keeping their beaches secure — and clean. India has taken steps in this direction this year with the launch of the programme at the Malpe beach. The aim is to involve the community, including children, in the process of making our beaches safe. Making our beaches secure involves much more than just having trained lifeguards.
Now we have got involved in the Nipper programme, which primarily aims at teaching children important lessons of keeping the beaches safe and clean. Under the programme, children are trained in life-saving, prevention of drowning and surfing through play-way method. Every weekend, kids were left to play on rescue surf boards and other beach-safety equipments. Also, techniques pertaining to running on a beach were taught through a race. The training includes first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and life-saving skills in dry land and water. Agility workouts that help enhance swimming techniques are taught. The aim is to reduce drowning and accident rates.
Deputy Commissioner Dr R Vishal distributed certificates to 100 students from the Fisheries School, Narayana Guru School, Gandhi School Malpe and District Sports School Ajjarkad who have completed primary training in swimming.
Dr R Vishal said that, it is a continuous process. The venture of life saving will start with training for local interested candidates who will train others in future. Presently, it costs Rs 2 lakh for 100 students to be trained. Depending on whether the demand is sustained, the administration will sponsor it. There are sufficient funds for it under the Malpe Beach Development Committee and other various funds. Our target is to equip children with these skills. This is a small component of our overall endeavour in Udupi to take care of tourism and allied activities, he added.
