EDITORIAL - Lifeguards

With high temperatures expected to prevail for the coming weeks, swimming will continue to be a popular activity. And the risk of drowning will remain high.

During the Holy Week break alone beginning on March 27, Holy Wednesday, the Philippine National Police recorded 29 deaths from 34 drowning incidents nationwide. The fatalities ranged in age from four to 78, the PNP reported. For the entire week beginning Palm Sunday, March 24, the PNP counted 37 deaths from drowning including 12 minors.

Most of the victims died in rivers; the rest drowned in the sea. The highest numbers were recorded in Calabarzon – Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon – followed by the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Western Visayas.

From Jan. 1 to March 28 this year, at least 212 people have died in drowning incidents across the country, according to the PNP.

Inflatable pool floats of all sizes and designs are widely available commercially along with discarded inner tire tubes that are recycled as inflatable beach floaters. Not all people, however, use rubber floats when swimming. And the numbers indicate that not enough importance is given to swimming ability when people enjoy the sea, river or other bodies of water.

To address this problem and minimize the loss of lives, lawmakers are pushing for legislation that will require the deployment of lifeguards in public swimming spots. Proponents want to assign the task to local government units. LGUs in several areas set swimming hours in public beaches, rivers and lakes. There are also local ordinances in some areas that require private resorts to have lifeguards. But there is no law with nationwide application for this.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill for the mandatory assignment of qualified lifeguards in all public swimming pools and bathing facilities nationwide. Under his bill, the number of lifeguards to be deployed would be based on a formula adhering to World Health Organization standards. Lifeguards must be trained and certified by a nationally recognized organization accredited by the Department of Health.

Considering the lives that can be saved, deploying lifeguards is a worthy investment for both private operators and LGUs. In an archipelago dotted with beaches, rivers and lakes, fielding lifeguards in public bathing spots should have been done a long time ago.