Source : The Straits Times, Sep 28, 2007
National Water Safety Council says it's the best way to ensure prompt help in emergencies
THE National Water Safety Council has called on all condominiums and clubs to hire lifeguards for their swimming pools.
The 18-member council, formed by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to take the lead in promoting and enhancing water safety, believes this is the best way to ensure help is immediately at hand, should someone be in danger of drowning.
The call comes in the wake of the death of 10-year-old Jonathan Chow Kin Mun, who drowned in the pool of Palm Gardens condominium, in Choa Chu Kang, earlier this month.
The council, set up in April, is working with the Building & Construction Authority and other agencies to develop a building code for water facilities.
This will help developers design and develop safer pools, and guide those who manage and operate them.
Dr Teo Ho Pin, council chairman and MP for Bukit Panjang, said having lifeguards at private pools will ensure trained people are present at emergencies.
However, Mr Francis Zhan, former president of the Association of Management Corporations In Singapore (Amcis), said having lifeguards is not viable, as pools in condominiums are not used for the greater part of the day.
Amcis is an umbrella body that brings together condominium management corporations.
He added: 'It would be affordable for each family if the estate has more than 700 units like, say, Mandarin Gardens or Maplewood.
'But if the condominium comprises fewer than 100 units, then each household has to fork out an additional $200 to $300 to pay the salaries of the lifeguards.'
A resident of Westmere in Jurong East said fewer than five people swim in his condo's pool on weekdays, and the number does not go beyond 20 at weekends.
'It would not only be boring for the lifeguard who won't stay in the job for long, but residents would feel it is a waste of their money,' he said.
He added that children are not allowed at the pool unaccompanied.
Mr Zhan suggested a more cost-effective alternative is to set up closed-circuit TV cameras at the pool, linked to the different units, so if the children go swimming, parents can monitor them on TV.
He added: 'Security guards of the condos should also be trained in life-saving skills and perhaps paid a little more as a result.'
There are currently 1,388 licences issued for swimming pools here. They include those at condominiums, clubs, hotels and public pools run by the Singapore Sports Council.
Danger in swimming pools: Parents should not oursource their kids' safety
ReplyDeleteI READ with interest the article, 'All condo, club pools should have lifeguards' (ST, Sept 28).
Let me first say that I do not in any way intend to trivialise the tragedy that occurred to Jonathan Chow.
But I do not think that the best solution to enhancing and promoting water safety would be to ensure that every condo and club pool has lifeguards.
In addition to the point raised that it would add a disproportionately great cost to the dwellers of small condo developments, it would be unfair that tenants, especially single expats, would have to bear the extra costs on top of already-phenomenal rental prices.
What is more important, though, is that making compulsory the presence of lifeguards would rob parents of a chance to teach their children some important lessons - of deferring their wants until a more suitable time and of taking responsibility for their own safety.
I am a stay-at-home mother who cannot swim. No matter how hot the weather is, I do not allow my children, both swimmers, to swim in the adult pool when their father is not around to supervise them. They sulk and pout even after I explain to them why, but it is non-negotiable.
Ultimately, parents have to say 'no' firmly when it comes to matters of their children's safety, especially when they are too young to recognise danger themselves. Perhaps, over time, children will learn to defer the gratification of their wants - in this case, for play - until a more suitable time.
As a parent, I would appreciate that my children are made to learn to take responsibility for their own safety by abiding by the family rules. I wouldn't want to outsource that, thank you.
Mrs Khaw Siew Ping
dear sadisfied,
ReplyDeleteMrs Khaw 's opinion is sound. It's not nice of you (lah) to suggest that she takes up swimming lessons.
Maybe she has a phobia and yes, I 've known people who have the fear of getting into a pool. (most likely, the fear of drowning.)
It's ridiculous for those few people to even suggest that all condo pools must have lifeguards!
This will never be possible unless an extra "levy" is imposed on pool users with children (what a big headache!)
Anyway, as for the rest of the condo residents, it's not fair to pay for services "not" rendered.