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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
25 die daily from drowning in West Bengal, half are children: new study finds
On World Drowning Prevention Day (July 25), a Statewide survey in West Bengal has revealed that 25 people die from drowning every day, of whom 12 are children. The annual toll, estimated at 9,191 deaths, is nearly three times higher than previous official estimates. The study conducted by The George Institute for Global Health described as the largest community-level drowning survey ever conducted in India, covered all 23 districts of West Bengal, surveying a population of 18 million. They gathered data from 15,000 community members. 'This research uncovers the true, devastating burden plaguing rural regions of West Bengal,' said Dr. Medhavi Gupta from The George Institute. 'As most deaths occur in children, families often do not report them, and poor health infrastructure leads to systemic undercounting.' According to the survey, children between 1-9 years are the highest risk group, they account for 48% of the deaths. Toddlers between 1-2 years are at 30% higher risk and most deaths occur within 50 metres of the house, especially between 12 noon and 2 pm, when caregivers are often busiest. Another striking data says that 93% of the children drowned when no adults were present around them. Dr. B Mohammed Asheel from the World Health Organization, India said, 'Although the global drowning death rate has declined 38% over the past two decades, low-and middle-income countries have been left behind. 92% of deaths still occur in these countries.' He insisted that since they already know the right steps to prevent drowning, it is important to start implementing them on the ground. Experts from the field have noted that inadequate understanding about drowning and post drowning response makes the deaths higher. 'Harmful and ineffective rescue efforts were common, inducing vomiting and spin over the head. Only 10% of victims received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with rescue breaths, which is the best-practice response for a drowning victim. Only 12% sought medical assistance,' the official statement from The George Institute stated. The survey has also offered policy recommendations like fencing around ponds and water bodies to protect toddlers, community CPR and rescue training because 90% of the first responders are community members. They also suggested that active swimming training of children from a young age can also bring about positive change. The study, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and co-authored with the Child in Need Institute (CINI), aims to drive policy change and community action. CINI's National Advocacy Officer, Sujoy Roy, who has extensively worked on the issue at ground level, said that they are ready to work with stakeholders to end drowning. 'These deaths are 100% preventable. If the young children are kept under the watch of adults, then all of them can be saved,' Mr Roy told The Hindu during the Drowning Prevention Day program organised by CINI. He also highlighted that the 25 daily death rates is the modest report, the numbers may be more if a even finer and in-depth study is conducted.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Judges in Delhi undergo trauma life support training to improve emergency response during road accidents
New Delhi: More than 50 judges from Delhi's South and Southeast district courts participated in a basic trauma life support training on Saturday. The initiative, coinciding with the eighth UN Global Road Safety Week, focused on improving their emergency response capabilities for road accidents. At the Saket district court complex, SaveLIFE Foundation conducted the training through its Jeevan Rakshak programme. South District Legal Services Authority and World Health Organization collaborated to organise the session, emphasising the need for enhanced trauma response skills among non-medical first responders. Annually, India records approximately 1.72 lakh road crash fatalities. Typically, bystanders and police personnel are first to reach accident sites. Swift bystander action, from emergency service notification to basic care provision, can significantly reduce casualties and prevent condition deterioration. Studies indicate that proper first response during the "golden hour" can decrease mortality by 30%. Despite PCR units often arriving first and judicial officers' involvement in legal proceedings, both groups lack comprehensive trauma response training. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo The training equipped judicial officers with vital life-saving techniques, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bleeding control and cervical spine immobilisation. Additional instruction covered emergency recognition, victim assessment and interaction, scene safety management and airway management. Dr B Mohammed Asheel, national professional officer (injuries, disabilities, assistive technology and rehabilitation) at WHO, said, "Strengthening first response capacity across all sectors is essential to reducing preventable deaths and disabilities caused by road traffic injuries. By including judicial officers in this training, we are promoting a multi-sectoral approach to emergency care — one that integrates legal awareness, public health and life-saving action. " The programme included training for high-risk scenarios like choking, emphasising the "golden hour's" importance in victim survival. The participants received briefings on good Samaritan law, implementation protocols, judicial interpretations and case studies. Shail Jain, district and sessions judge at South district, said, "This training marks a meaningful step towards enhancing the responsiveness and empathy of the justice system. By learning life-saving trauma response skills, judicial officers are better equipped to understand the realities on the ground and support the broader goal of saving lives." Vivek Kumar Agarwal, secretary of South DLSA, said, "Judicial officers are not just custodians of the law but often find themselves in positions where a basic understanding of emergency response can save lives." The training was also attended by Nivedita Anil Sharma, district and sessions judge in South district, and Piyush Tewari, founder and CEO of SaveLIFE Foundation.
