Water Safety and Learning to Swim in Phuket: Children, Pools and Lifeguards

The risk

Thai public-health statistics and the World Health Organization are cited as showing drowning as the leading cause of death for Thai children under 15 or aged 1 to 15. Local news reports quote roughly 950 to 1,500 child drownings a year nationally, and older Phuket figures show drownings among both children and tourists. One column notes that Phuket children are exposed to beaches, former tin mine ponds, canals and thousands of pools, few with lifeguards.

Lessons and programmes

Phuket Lifeguard Club, Surf Life Saving Thailand and resort partners run school survival-swim and water-safety programmes, and a Phuket column reports that children as young as one can benefit from informal lessons. Swimming lessons are listed at about 500 to 1,000 baht a session in the kids' classes guide. Learning in a pool and in the sea differ, so also learn about currents and flags.

Supervision rules

• Keep young children within arm's reach near any water.
• Swim only at lifeguarded beaches and obey flags, see the sea safety guide.
• Check pool fences, gates and depth markings, see the hotel safety guide and the pool villa guide.
• Learn basic first aid and CPR, see the emergencies guide.