(Bandar Seri Begawan, 25th) In conjunction with World Drowning Prevention Day, Brunei Water Sports Association Honorary Secretary Hung Ming Siang stated that July 25 is World Drowning Prevention Day established by the United Nations. There is no better day to launch the “Every Child Prepared for Water Safety” campaign, nor a place more suitable than Brunei to promote this initiative.
He said water is closely linked to the lives of Bruneians. The South China Sea surrounds the coastline, rivers cut through communities, Kampong Ayer is built on water, and schools and homes are equipped with swimming pools. Water is an indispensable part of life, but at the same time, it is a danger that is often overlooked.
He cited data from the World Health Organization, pointing out that in 2021, about 300,000 people worldwide died from drowning, averaging more than 30 deaths per hour. Of these, children under 15 accounted for 43% of all drowning deaths, with nearly 130,000 children losing their lives in a year. Drowning is the third leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 14, and the vast majority of these accidents are actually preventable.
Hung Ming Siang said that behind every figure is a broken family. Often, it is only a moment of parental negligence or just a few seconds near the water that leads to irreparable tragedies.
“The word 'preventable' must be kept in mind. A child who understands water, recognizes danger, knows what to do and what to avoid, is much less likely to become a victim of a drowning accident.”
He said the World Health Organization has clearly stated that teaching basic water safety knowledge to school-aged children is one of the most effective ways to save lives. Therefore, water safety education should be incorporated into school curricula, so that every Bruneian child benefits for life. It is as important as learning road safety and participating in fire drills.
He stated that the “Every Child Prepared for Water Safety” program is conducted entirely in classroom settings without the need for a swimming pool or swimwear, allowing all children, regardless of gender, to learn water safety in a manner that aligns with Bruneian culture.
Hung Ming Siang said that the program has already achieved preliminary results. Shen Nali, founder of Blue Whale Water Safety and author of 'Mary and the Blue Whale', made a special trip from Seoul, South Korea to Brunei to train teachers. After a two-day course, 25 teachers from 13 schools completed their training and received certification. In the future, water safety education will continue to be promoted in public and international schools across the country.
“This is how an activity becomes a habit, and a habit develops into a social norm.”
He also announced that on the same day, the Brunei Water Sports Association simultaneously launched a management certification and nationwide registration system for swimming coaches and instructors. For the first time, Brunei has established a complete, certified database of coaches and instructors, setting a unified national standard for swim instruction.
He stated that when parents entrust their children to coaches by the pool, they are also entrusting their confidence, and this trust must be safeguarded by qualified and responsible coaches. After registration is complete, swimming pools throughout the country will have a safer and more standardized learning environment. On the day, certified coaches and instructors were also recognized together with teachers, jointly bearing the responsibility of ensuring children's safety.
Hung Ming Siang concluded by expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Education for their support, which has allowed this concept to develop into a nationwide program.
He also thanked founding partners and sponsors including Imagine Sdn Bhd, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, Royal Brunei Airlines, Mulia Hotel Brunei, and D'Sunlit Sdn Bhd for their strong support in providing learning resources for children.
He said the sponsors are supporting not just a course, but a life-saving skill that will accompany children for a lifetime and continue to make an impact for decades to come.
He cited data from the World Health Organization, pointing out that in 2021, about 300,000 people worldwide died from drowning, averaging more than 30 deaths per hour. Of these, children under 15 accounted for 43% of all drowning deaths, with nearly 130,000 children losing their lives in a year. Drowning is the third leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 14, and the vast majority of these accidents are actually preventable.
Hung Ming Siang said that behind every figure is a broken family. Often, it is only a moment of parental negligence or just a few seconds near the water that leads to irreparable tragedies.
“The word 'preventable' must be kept in mind. A child who understands water, recognizes danger, knows what to do and what to avoid, is much less likely to become a victim of a drowning accident.”
He said the World Health Organization has clearly stated that teaching basic water safety knowledge to school-aged children is one of the most effective ways to save lives. Therefore, water safety education should be incorporated into school curricula, so that every Bruneian child benefits for life. It is as important as learning road safety and participating in fire drills.
He stated that the “Every Child Prepared for Water Safety” program is conducted entirely in classroom settings without the need for a swimming pool or swimwear, allowing all children, regardless of gender, to learn water safety in a manner that aligns with Bruneian culture.
Hung Ming Siang said that the program has already achieved preliminary results. Shen Nali, founder of Blue Whale Water Safety and author of 'Mary and the Blue Whale', made a special trip from Seoul, South Korea to Brunei to train teachers. After a two-day course, 25 teachers from 13 schools completed their training and received certification. In the future, water safety education will continue to be promoted in public and international schools across the country.
“This is how an activity becomes a habit, and a habit develops into a social norm.”
He also announced that on the same day, the Brunei Water Sports Association simultaneously launched a management certification and nationwide registration system for swimming coaches and instructors. For the first time, Brunei has established a complete, certified database of coaches and instructors, setting a unified national standard for swim instruction.
He stated that when parents entrust their children to coaches by the pool, they are also entrusting their confidence, and this trust must be safeguarded by qualified and responsible coaches. After registration is complete, swimming pools throughout the country will have a safer and more standardized learning environment. On the day, certified coaches and instructors were also recognized together with teachers, jointly bearing the responsibility of ensuring children's safety.
Hung Ming Siang concluded by expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Education for their support, which has allowed this concept to develop into a nationwide program.
He also thanked founding partners and sponsors including Imagine Sdn Bhd, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, Royal Brunei Airlines, Mulia Hotel Brunei, and D'Sunlit Sdn Bhd for their strong support in providing learning resources for children.
He said the sponsors are supporting not just a course, but a life-saving skill that will accompany children for a lifetime and continue to make an impact for decades to come.