Around 100 people die from drowning in Latvia every year. Although they are mostly reckless adults who have underestimated their swimming abilities, they also include children as young as 14 years old. Already five years ago, a concept was developed to reduce this black statistic. However, its implementation has remained on paper, as there is no state support for the implementation of the swimming program in schools. It has zero funding next year as well. Therefore, learning to swim (at least for second-grade students) is fully dependent on the infrastructure and financial capabilities available to the municipality.
Educators must be trained
Like any subject, swimming lessons must be learned according to a single system and basic principles.Sadly, this does not happen in reality, and in each municipality and school it is ensured according to each individual’s own understanding, therefore, in general, the expected results are not achieved, that is, the statistics of drowned people, including children, do not decrease.For days the associations do not hide their critical attitude Swim safely manager Zane Gemze, adding that the situation will not improve without state support. the state’s attitude definitely refers to statistics – if in Latvia with its 1.8 million inhabitants, more than 100 people drown a year, then in the Netherlands, where there are 18 million, 90 drown, and in Australia, where there are 26 million inhabitants, 352.
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what are the main causes of drowning incidents in Latvia, and how can swimming education help reduce them?
Interview: The drowning Crisis in Latvia and the Need for Swimming Education
Editor, Time.news: Today, we are joined by Zane Gemze, the manager of the initiative “Swim safely” to discuss the alarming statistics of drowning incidents in Latvia and the pressing need for state-supported swimming education in schools. Thank you for joining us, Zane.
Q: Zane, latvia experiences around 100 drowning incidents annually, which is a staggering figure considering our population. What do you attribute this high number to,and how do children fit into this statistic?
A: Thank you for having me. The statistics are indeed concerning. Most drowning victims are adults who underestimate thier swimming abilities, but we cannot overlook that children as young as 14 are also included in these tragedies. A lack of proper swimming education and awareness contributes significantly to this issue. Many municipalities lack the resources needed for effective swimming programs in schools.
Q: you mentioned that five years ago, a concept was developed to tackle this issue, but it has yet to be implemented. What does this concept entail, and why hasn’t it moved forward?
A: The concept involves a structured swimming education program designed to be introduced in schools, notably targeting second-grade students. Unluckily, implementation has stalled due to a lack of state funding and support.As of now,there is zero funding allocated for this initiative next year,so the responsibility falls on local municipalities,many of which simply do not have the budget to prioritize swimming education.
Q: What are the potential consequences of not having state-supported swimming programs in schools?
A: Without a uniform swimming education system, we will continue to see high drowning rates. different municipalities have different approaches to swimming lessons, which leads to inconsistencies in skill acquisition among children. Consequently,these disparities fail to reduce drowning statistics,reflecting a important gap in our swimming education infrastructure.
Q: how does LatviaS drowning rate compare with countries like the Netherlands and Australia that you mentioned?
A: The contrast is stark. Latvia’s statistics are alarming; with our small population of 1.8 million, we average over 100 drownings a year. In comparison, the Netherlands, with a population of 18 million, records only 90 drownings, and Australia, with nearly 26 million, has 352 drownings. this indicates that better swimming education and public awareness campaigns directly correlate with lower drowning rates.
Q: What practical advice would you provide to parents and communities to mitigate this issue while awaiting state support?
A: Parents should actively seek community swimming lessons and programs, nonetheless of their availability in schools. Engaging with local swim clubs and organizations that prioritize child safety in water can be immensely beneficial. Moreover, advocating for local government to recognize the importance of swimming education can also drive change. Encouraging children to learn swimming at a young age can equip them with essential survival skills.
Q: Lastly, what message do you want to convey to the government regarding swimming education?
A: The government needs to recognize that investing in swimming education is an investment in public safety. Every child should have the chance to learn to swim,which will not only save lives but also foster a culture of safety around water. The swimming program must not remain just an idea on paper—action is crucial.
Editor, Time.news: Thank you,Zane,for highlighting these critical issues surrounding swimming education and drowning prevention in Latvia. It’s clear that immediate action is needed to change the current statistics and save lives.