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"Most private pools here don't have life guards" view of Teo Poh Siang in The Straits Times |
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Monday, 18 December 2006 |
THERE are 1,300 swimming pools in Singapore and virtually none of them is manned by a lifeguard.
Instead, often the only safety measure is a sign that says: 'Swim at your own risk'.
Swimming pool drownings have made the news in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a German man drowned in a shallow jacuzzi when he was pinned to the bottom by a suction drain.
Around the same time, two cases of young children drowning in condominium pools also came up before the State Coroner.
Last year, three people drowned in pools.
These incidents have been occurring for years, but little has been done to improve safety, largely because there is no governing body regulating the responsibility of pool owners to safety measures in place.
The laws deal only with pool construction and maintenance of water quality.
When it comes to safety issues, matters are left in the hands of the pool owners, which in the case of condo pools is the estate's management committee.
The result: Most do the bare minimum, by putting life-saving equipment and a first-aid kit nearby.
The Singapore Life Saving Society said 'nothing beats having eyes on the ground' to spot swimmers in trouble.
But many private estates are reluctant to do so because of the cost, said Mr Teo Poh Siang, director of Wisely Property Consultants.
The 23 public pools run by the Singapore Sports Council, however, have lifeguards to look after the swimmers and statistics show they do make a difference.
Last year, 300 people were rescued from drowning, with one out of every three at a public pool.
The MP for Bukit Panjang, Mr Teo Ho Pin, who is also the adviser of a national taskforce looking into water safety, said: 'Of course we want every swimmer to take responsibility for themselves...but a lifeguard helps to reduce the risk of drowning or injury.'
Ms Marianne Ang, director of assets services at CB Richard Ellis, said lifeguards were a good idea, but they are in short supply.
'Ultimately, the responsibility of using the pool should be that of the users,' she said.
Anti-drowning devices are available to spot swimmers in trouble.
For example, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) has come up with the Drowning Early Warning System (Dews), which uses video cameras to detect common traits of a drowning victim and alert the person monitoring the pool.
It is being tested out in Clementi Swimming Pool and A*Star has plans to market it to private pools.
Another concern is that pools are designed with aesthetics in mind, rather than safety.
State Coroner Ronald Gwee commented on the design of pools recently in the drowning of a three-year-old boy in the Seasons Park condo in Yio Chu Kang.
The playground where the boy had been playing was situated beside the pool, a layout the coroner called 'an accident waiting to happen'.
Retired building consultant Michael Yeo also said pool designs were the main safety problem. 'Designers try to be as creative as possible and sacrificing safety.'
Water safety experts also suggest pool owners conduct regular safety audits.
Mr Richard Tan, honorary secretary-general of the Singapore Life Saving Society, said there is little demand for audits of pools. He has conducted fewer than 10.
Pool builder Crystalene Product's managing director Richard Ng said demands for pool audits often come only after there have been incidents and this is too late.
Mr Ng said: 'It is like leaving broken glass on a walkway waiting for someone to step on it.'
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