Our History

In response to recent queries from The Straits Times and Today newspapers in early September 2008 about "shallow water blackouts", the President, Richard Tan Ming Kirk, gave some comments including the following:

1. Shallow water blackout usually involves the loss of consciousness after someone has been holding his breath or has been hyperventilating (i.e. over breathing). Both strong and weak swimmers may be affected by shallow water blackouts. Strong swimmers or breath-hold free divers (i.e. skin divers) who hyperventilate in order to extend their underwater or bottom time are particularly at risk. However, weak swimmers may also hyperventilate because they are anxious and therefore put themselves at risk. Hyperventilation increases the amount of oxygen in the body while at the same time reducing the amount of carbon dioxide. Rising carbon dioxide levels in the body actually help to trigger the urge to breathe. Therefore, depleting the body's carbon dioxide levels increases the likelihood of shallow water blackouts. This is because the lack of an urge to breathe can result in the deprivation of oxygen going to the brain and cause unconsciousness. It may be difficult for the victim to realise that he is going to experience a shallow water blackout since this often happens suddenly. However, it has been said that some victims experience dizziness and a loss of vision shortly before it happens.

2. From the above, it can be seen that it is very difficult to do anything once you are going to be a victim of shallow water blackout. Therefore, prevention is always the better strategy.

3. We would advise people to take the following precautions -
    (a) Do not hyperventilate
    (b) Do not enter the water or swim when you are anxious or nervous.
    (c) Surface above the water to breathe whenever the urge arises
    (d) Do not hold your breath
    (e) Breathe normally
    (f) Do not swim alone

Letter from Honorary Secretary-General, Tan Lii Chong, an edited copy of which was published in the Straits Times Interactive ST Online Forum, 8 July 2008

The Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS) strongly believes that every drowning is one too many. On this note, the SLSS sends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the late Mr Levin Agsana, the latest victim of drowning in Singapore waters.

The SLSS also echoes the views of Mr Teo Ser Luck and Dr Teo Ho Pin who have commented on this incident. Although the SLSS cannot comment on whether putting on a life jacket will hinder performance, or worse, make it more dangerous for the athlete to pursue a particular aquatic sport, the reality is that, unless one puts on a life jacket, it is quite certain that anticipated dangers will make themselves present mercilessly, as this latest case has shown.

As the saying goes, no one plans to fail, but some fail to plan. In any aquatic emergency, the individual in distress will normally have only split seconds to decide the next course of action in order to survive.

Therefore, any prior relevant training - such as basic swimming competence, swimming with and without life jacket, and drill in case of capsize - will certainly put the individual in a better position to focus on his next course of action if there is no imminent danger that he will be unable to breathe.

Furthermore, it cannot be anticipated that no other injury will occur. For example, the victim may become unconscious or semi-conscious should there be any impact to the head, or other severe injuries may impede body movement.

In such cases, wearing a life jacket may be the best survival kit an individual who finds himself in aquatic distress can rely on.

Having provided these examples, the SLSS is in no position to suggest that no aquatic tragedy will ever occur so long as one always wears a life jacket in the water. The main purpose of this letter is to caution readers that, when engaging in any activity in the water, one should never underestimate the dangers of water and one should follow all necessary water-safety measures.

We welcome members of the public who seek necessary water-safety advice from the SLSS office. Telephone 6299-3660 or e-mail slss@pacific.net.sg.

"Safer to try reach or throw rescue in drowning cases"

Letter from Honorary Secretary-General, Richard Tan Ming Kirk, an edited copy of which was published in the Straits Times of 14 December 2006

The report "Father drowns while trying to save son from strong current" (ST, Dec 11) shows the dangers of the sea and of attempting to rescue a person in the water.

We have already written about the dangers of the sea in the past and would refer interested persons to our previous letter "Take extra care when swimming in sea" (ST, Sep 9, 2004). In this letter, we would like to highlight the dangers of trying to rescue someone in water.

Both trained rescuers and lay persons have been known to become victims in the course of attempting to rescue others. This may be due to a lack of the necessary skills, fitness or equipment. It may also be due to a misjudgment of the conditions present. Therefore, it is always better to prevent the occurrence of a drowning situation than to attempt a rescue.

However, in the unfortunate case where there is a need to rescue someone, the paramount consideration should always be the lifesaver¢s own safety and rescues that can be performed without entering the water are safer. For example, a reach (with a pole) or throw (with a rope) rescue should always be considered first. Only when such techniques are not likely to work should the rescuer consider entering the water. Even then, he should enter the water as far as possible with rescue aids like life buoys or swim floats. These may then be passed to the victim to keep him buoyant and reduce the need to make contact. The reason for avoiding contact is that a person in difficulties in the water is likely to grab at anything that floats and that includes the rescuer. Hence, in our lifesaving courses, we teach defensive techniques to prevent a victim from grabbing a rescuer who is attempting a rescue. We also teach escape techniques to enable a rescuer to escape from any unexpected grasp.

The above only mentions some of the knowledge and skills required before a rescuer can attempt a rescue properly. We would therefore encourage people to take up a lifesaving course to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills necessary for safer rescue attempts so that they are prepared should the need arise.

More information on lifesaving courses (together with our previous letter mentioned above and relevant contact details) may be found on our website at www.slss.org.sg

Richard Tan Ming Kirk
Honorary Secretary-General
Singapore Life Saving Society

"Deploy lifeguards at swimming pools to prevent accidents"

Letter from Honorary Secretary-General, Richard Tan Ming Kirk, an edited copy of which was published in the Straits Times Interactive ST Online Forum, 13 December 2006

We refer to your reports (ST, Dec 2 and ST, Dec 8) on the two young boys who died in separate drowning incidents. It is pertinent to note that they drowned despite a grandparent keeping an eye in one case and a parent doing the same in the other. Sadly, the cases highlight the risks of swimming in places without lifeguards.

Lay persons are not trained to recognise persons in distress in water. In fact, many people assume that a drowning person will shout and wave for help. However, drowning is often a silent killer. It has been said that the reason why drowning victims are unable to shout is because the respiratory system was designed for breathing and speech is a secondary function. It has been observed that drowning victims do not have enough time to exhale and inhale and still call for help in the limited time they struggle to keep above the water.

Many people also do not realise how short a time drowning persons can struggle to keep their heads above the the water before they are overwhelmed. One study found that they can only struggle to keep their heads above the water for 20 to 60 seconds. This results in a very short time before they disappear under the water. For this reason, one lifeguard organisation has recommended a 10 seconds scanning rule i.e. a lifeguard should scan his entire zone every 10 seconds or risk not spotting a drowning victim. Few lay persons know this or are as vigilant.

They also do not know what to do in a drowning incident. In fact, there are cases of rescuers becoming victims themselves. Lifeguards would know how to minimise the risks when effecting a rescue. They also know resuscitation techniques and how to provide emergency care.

For these and other reasons, we have always urged the authorities and pool owners to have lifeguards whenever pools and other aquatic facilities are open for use. We also encourage everyone to learn water survival and lifesaving skills and schools to teach these skills.

Our non-profit organisation is dedicated to promoting water safety and lifesaving and will be happy to assist with information on water safety, lifesaving, lifeguard training and other drowning prevention matters. For more information, please contact our Manager by calling 6299-3660, faxing 6299-0693 or emailing slss@pacific.net.sg

Richard Tan Ming Kirk

Honorary Secretary-General

Singapore Life Saving Society

Letter from Honorary Secretary-General, Richard Tan Ming Kirk, an edited copy of which was published in the Straits Times Interactive ST Online Forum, 8 September 2006

The report, "Worker drowns after cart rolls into golf course pond" (ST; Sep 2, 2006) highlights the danger of falling into a pond. While deep water is normally more risky than shallow water, the Singapore Life Saving Society considers every body or container of water a potential hazard. Drownings have been known to occur in water of as little as five centimetres in depth.

Owners, occupiers and managers of properties where bodies of water are found should therefore try to control or restrict access to them as well as take appropriate preventive measures. In addition, they should also consider providing adequate warning and making rescue equipment easily available.

The fact that these waters are not normally intended for swimming may lead people to mistakenly think that drownings are unlikely to occur there. However, our records reveal that drownings do occur in many places that are not intended for swimming e.g. reservoirs, rivers and even drains. Experience from more developed countries have shown that relatively simple changes made to the environment in and around waters can help reduce the incidence of drowning. Therefore, we would urge everyone concerned to treat all bodies of water as potential hazards and to take the necessary steps to address them. Some of the measures that have been recommended in other countries include the following:

Fencing is a useful method of restricting access to water and pool fencing has been especially effective in reducing the incidence of drowning in young children in Australia. It creates a physical barrier that is not easily breached and helps to prevent most accidental entries into the water.

The planting of aquatic vegetation and vegetation in and beside bodies of water has been recommended in the United Kingdom as a possible protection that may also be aesthetic at the same time.

Providing for a gentle gradient above and below the water line is helpful in reducing the risks of drowning. This is because there is research to show that many people who drown do so in water that is near their own standing depth. If there is a gentle underwater gradient from the water edge, the chances of a person being able to stand with their head above the water and thus avoiding drowning is much higher.

Another point that has been highlighted by your report was that the man who drowned could not swim. The relationship between the ability to swim and the risk of drowning is still not proven because few studies have been done in this area and ethical reasons have also prevented the duplication of realistic drowning scenarios. However, not many people would argue that under similar conditions, someone who cannot swim is less likely to drown than someone who can. While acknowledging the lack of research in this area, experts at the World Congress of Drowning 2002 nonetheless recommended that all individuals should learn to swim because it is a major skill to prevent drowning. We would also make the same recommendation.

The Singapore Life Saving Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting water safety and lifesaving and we will be happy to assist interested persons with more information. They may call our manager or senior executive at 6299-3660, fax them at 6299-0693 or email them at slss@pacific.net.sg

RICHARD TAN MING KIRK
Honorary Secretary-General
Singapore Life Saving Society

Letter from Honorary Secretary General, Richard Tan Ming Kirk, published in the Straits Times, 1 July 2005

Re.: Lower Seletar Reservoir & Hillington Green Condominium Drowning Incidents

The Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS) is sad to find out that two young lives were lost in separate drowning incidents over the weekend and another young boy drowned two days before that.

Two of the drowning incidents occurred in swimming pools and the third occurred near the sea. According to our records, swimming pools, rivers and the sea are frequently the locations with the highest number of drownings. Yet, deaths from drowning are often preventable and everyone can play a part.

We would like to highlight the following in the interest of drowning prevention:

Environmental design changes around waters that attract people -

Changes made to the environment in and around waters that attract people can reduce the incidence of drowning. These changes would include having buoys and markers to delimit swimming areas and lifesaving devices like life buoys and lines, poles and prominent signs. One study in the United States found that when such changes were made in inland lakes open to recreation activities, recreation-related drowning fell by 73% even though visitor numbers increased by 66%.

We urge the relevant authorities to put up prominent and clear warning signs so that people will avoid swimming in unsafe areas. In addition, we also urge them to make available easily accessible lifesaving aids like life buoys and poles for use by rescuers should anyone inadvertently fall into the water and need to be rescued. Such aids improve the chances of a successful rescue while reducing the risks to persons attempting the rescue.

Employ lifeguards -

Studies have shown that supervision by lifeguards reduce drownings and near-drownings and the SLSS has always advocated that persons responsible for swimming pools and aquatic facilities employ lifeguards and also install drowning prevention and lifesaving aids. Lifeguards bring with them the knowledge and skills that an untrained parent or minder may not have and lifesaving aids greatly facilitate a safe rescue. In an aquatic emergency, prompt and correct action is critical to the saving of life.

We again urge persons in charge of swimming pools and aquatic facilities that are open to swimmers and other users to employ lifeguards during their opening hours.

Self-help -

Parents, swimmers and users of aquatic facilities can exercise self-help through the following ways:

- learn water-survival, swimming and lifesaving skills.
- avoid swimming alone.
- be vigilant in keeping an eye on younger and weaker swimmers.
- avoid swimming pools and swimming areas where there are no lifeguards around.
- urge persons responsible for swimming pools and swimming areas to employ lifeguards and install drowning-prevention and lifesaving aids.

The SLSS, a non-profit organisation with a mission to promote aquatic safety and lifesaving, will be happy to assist interested persons with information and training on water safety, lifesaving, lifeguard skills and other drowning prevention matters. They may call our Manager at 6299-3660, fax him at 6299-0693 or email him at slss@pacific.net.sg

RICHARD TAN MING KIRK
Honorary Secretary-General
Singapore Life Saving Society

Re.: Take extra care when swimming in sea

The Singapore Life Saving Society is sad to learn that one Singaporean drowned and another went missing in the sea off Phuket on Monday ("One dead, another missing in Phuket outing"; ST September 1).

We would like to highlight to members of the public that the sea has many dangers for swimmers and other visitors and they include the following:

·    waves that can vary greatly in size, intensity and frequency;
·    rip currents (i.e. fast flowing currents moving seaward) that are able to carry a person very far out from the shore;
·    lateral currents (i.e. currents that run roughly parallel to the shore) that make it difficult to swim to shore;
·    underwater hazards like depressions, sudden drop-offs and submerged objects; changing water conditions;
·    venomous marine life;
·    seaweeds; and
·    water crafts of all kinds.

Therefore, members of the public should take special precautions when they are at the seaside and these include:

·    swim and dive only in designated areas.
·    swim only when there is a lifeguard on duty.
·    obey the lifeguard or other beach authority at all times.
·    avoid water crafts.
·    obey all rules and regulations of the seaside.
·    do not consume alcohol.
·    obey all warning signs.
·    do not swim alone.
·    learn water-survival and lifesaving skills before going into the water.

We would also like to point out that the seas in foreign countries might pose a greater danger to Singapore residents because of a number of reasons. For example, we may not be familiar with the strength of their waves and currents or the temperature of their seawater. Furthermore, the warnings may be given in a foreign language and the warning signs may also be different. As a consequence, greater care should be exercised in a foreign location and it is advisable to contact the local lifesaving society or lifeguard organisation for more safety information before swimming there.

Our society, a non-profit organisation, is a national member of the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth and the International Lifesaving Federation. We have contacts with many lifesaving organisations worldwide and would be happy to provide interested persons or organisations with the contact details of these organisations. We would also be happy to provide information and training on water safety, lifesaving, lifeguard training and other drowning prevention matters.

Interested persons may call the society's Manager at 6299-3660, fax him at 6299-0693 or e-mail him at slss@pacific.net.sg

RICHARD TAN MING KIRK
Honorary Secretary-General
Singapore Life Saving Society

    The Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS) is saddened to learn that two more young lives were lost last Sunday ("Double drownings: Boy, 4, in country club; girl, 4, in condo"; ST March 16).

     Children are naturally drawn to play in water, whether or not they are able to swim. Unfortunately, just because they are able to swim or stand in a swimming pool does not mean that they will not get into difficulties and drown.

     In fact, there have been cases of drowning involving swimmers and even a few inches of water.

     Studies have shown that supervision by lifeguards reduced drownings or near -drownings. In fact, one US study indicated that more than three quarters of deaths by drowning at certain locations that had lifeguards occurred at times when those locations were unguarded.

     While the SLSS urges the authorities and pool owners to have lifeguards on duty whenever swimming pools and other aquatic facilities are open for use, there are some things that individuals can do to help themselves, such as the following:

   - Learn water-survival and lifesaving skills and encourage everyone in the family to learn such skills.

   - Ensure that those using swimming pools and aquatic facilities are constantly supervised by a parent, guardian or some other person.

   - Urge the persons responsible for the operation of swimming pools at condominiums and clubs to employ lifeguards and install drowning-prevention and lifesaving aids.

   - Avoid swimming pools or swimming areas where there are no lifeguards on duty.

     We would also encourage school principals and heads of other educational institutions to include water-survival and lifesaving skills as part of their physical or general education programme. Such skills are very important and may mean the difference between life and death in an aquatic emergency.

     Our society, a non-profit organisation, would be happy to assist interested persons or organisations with information and training on water safety, lifesaving, lifeguard training and other drowning prevention matters.

     To contact us, call 6299-3660, fax 6299-0693 e-mail slss@pacific.net.sg

RICHARD TAN MING KIRK
Honorary Secretary-General
Singapore Life Saving Society