Hile Teuk Kampuchea (HTK) volunteers teach CPR to students at a Siem Reap school. The NGO aims to target preventable drowning deaths, which claim the lives of up to five Cambodian children a day. HTK
Since being officially declared by the UN General Assembly in 2021, World Drowning Prevention Day has been observed annually on July 25.
The day is especially relevant here in Cambodia, where drowning remains the leading cause of death for children up to the age of 17.
Two special events to mark the day are scheduled for this year, one in Siem Reap province, and one in Phnom Penh.
The functions are being hosted by Hile Teuk Kampuchea (HTK), which means “Swim Cambodia” in Khmer (literally “pull water”). A locally organised and run NGO, HTK is on a mission to reduce child drowning and related injuries through water safety education and survival swimming training.
The two events will feature extensive presentations on the extent of the “silent killer” afflicting the Kingdom’s kids, along with methods for drowning prevention and safety messages in aquatic environments, safe techniques for rescuing someone who is drowning, and even the chance to practice CPR on a modern training mannequin.
The organisation will host a morning event at their offices in Svay Prey village in Siem Reap town, located on the grounds of Bambujaya International School, while the Phnom Penh function will be run by volunteers from the NGO on the grounds of iCan British International School, in the capital’s Tonle Bassac commune.
In attendance will be representatives of numerous civil society organisations and youth groups, plus local students.
HTK will host two events to raise awareness on this year’s July 25 World Drowning Prevention Day, one in Siem Reap province and one in Phnom Penh. HTK
The Siem Reap event will also be open to the public, so interested community members should make plans to attend and learn more about what is being done – and what more needs to be done – to reduce the current appalling loss of young lives.
Due to limited space, the Phnom Penh event will be invitation only.
The Kingdom has the 12th highest number of drawings per year, despite having just the 73rd highest population. Proportionately, the rates are far higher than its neighbours, with whom it shares a similar topography.
According to the UN, more than 90 per cent of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells and domestic water storage vessels in low- and middle-income countries, with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected.
It is estimated that on average, four or five Cambodian children lose their lives in preventable drownings every single day.
At present, water safety is not included in the state curriculum, and with many parents themselves unaware of how to perform CPR, or even swim, many kids are lost to preventable accidents. Perhaps even more tragically, multiple drownings have been reported, where one child goes to the rescue of another, with both perishing.
HTK aims to deliver the SWIM (Safety When It Matters) Cambodia curriculum to kids across the country by training “water safety heroes” who can share what they have learned with their communities.
Water safety education is one of the most cost-effective ways of saving lives across the Kingdom, and the organisation is appealing for the support of the public.
A team of 15 volunteers will take part in the August 4 Angkor Empire Marathon event, with the goal of raising $2,000 to expand the NGO’s invaluable work. HTK
To demonstrate their dedication to this important cause, 15 HTK volunteers will be “Running to Prevent Drowning” by taking part in this year’s Angkor Empire Marathon.
Through their participation in the August 4 event, which winds its way through the ancient temples of Angkor Archaeological Park, the volunteers aim to raise awareness of the work they do. In addition, they hope to attract sufficient sponsorship to raise funds of $2,000, which will allow them to expand their invaluable efforts.
Potential donors and philanthropists can learn more about how they can contribute through Hile Teuk Kampuchea’s social media pages. A Khmercare online appeal is also available to overseas residents who would like to play a part in ending the drowning epidemic.
“Running our courses is not expensive and once the knowledge is in the community it should spread exponentially,” explained Sarath Tek, director of HTK.
“Education is cheap, and once someone has the knowledge they need they can share it with others, whether it is kids sharing with other kids or whoever,” she added.
