The ManicaPost
Luxson Chananda
THE current incessant rains have brought with them a mixture of joy and misfortune. As we all celebrate the green patch spread across our fields and the rest of the eye-catching terrain that characterise Manicaland, we certainly cannot forget that the season has come with its ugly side.
First, it was the lightning laden thunderstorms that killed eight people during the early phase of the season.
The calming down of showers have given us a huge sigh of relief.
With a number of people losing their lives through drowning in flooded rivers and water logged bodies, one can only hope that the information we intend to share here will certainly go a long way in minimising, if not stopping the current deaths.
It is, however, sad to note that most drownings could have been avoided and lives saved had people been more cautious and taken steps to protect themselves and their loved ones.
While victim blaming is at times not the ideal thing in catastrophies like this, it is important for every person to learn from these unfortunate incidents.
The preventive tips discussed here are all based on the noted causes of drownings in Manicaland Province.
The major causes for adolescent or adult drowning have been seen to be lack of respect for deep and/or fast flowing waters in the following scenarios:
people venturing into fully flooded rivers
experimenting with flooded rivers where people, for the fun of it, cross rivers holding onto tails of cattle or riding on logs or makeshift boats.
bathing at the edge of flooded rivers or on rocks within deep waters.
Misjudgement of the water depth or strength of a current.
On a more closer look, adults have been responsible for the drownings involving infants. The police in conjunction with the media have ran several stories of children found dead in water tubs, wells, home swimming pools or gullies and ditches left fallow.
Most children would rather play within the vicinity of the adult, but then the adults are often too busy with chores and forget to keep an eye on the children.
Manicaland, like eslewhere in the country and region has had unusually high rainfall mostly precipitated by two successive tropical storms; of course these coming when we are still struggling to find our footing after the Cyclone Idai disaster.
Perhaps, I should stress here that there is a difference between flood related deaths and the drownings happening around us.
Victims in the former have been at the mercy of the weather phenomenon, while those in the latter have been active players in the fate that befell them.
This is to say victims of drowning under the above highlighted circumstances could have been alive had they taken some important precautions.
Surely cyclones may not be held accountable as cause of deaths of people who dare treacherous rivers.
The issue here is for people to avert the ever looming danger of drowning by learning and implementing some simple preventive tips.
Stay on your side of the river when you find it in flood.
Do not experiment with vicious and deep waters.
Do not venture into water bodies where you are not familiar with the underground. You could trip over roots, rocks or slippery ground.
Be very wary of signs of drowning on your colleagues should they appear to be in trouble while in deep waters. In other words, know the signs when someone is drowning.
keep a close eye on children whenever there are water bodies around.
fill-up all disused gullies and ditches.
keep wells or waterbuckets and dishes covered if there is need to store water in them at home. If there is no need, then keep the buckets and dishes empty or upturned because rains may fill them up.
All said and done, let us take note that police treat cases of drowning with extreme caution particularly those where victims are found already dead floating or submerged in water.
Some cases of drowning, though presenting as such, may not actually be drowning cases.
It is possible that the deceased may be victims of some other criminal acts and could have been already dead before they were disposed of in the river or water body. It is for this reason that we call on the public to report all cases of drowning to the police.
The police have a duty to investigate circumstances surrounding each case, facts of which are presented to the courts for consideration to close the matter where foul play is not involved or for initiating an inquest where it appears some one other than a water accident could have caused the death.
Let us all help to keep ourselves, children, relatives, or friends alive by sounding these and other tips over and over again.
This way, we can co-exist with the precious and most valued life giving liquid. Stay safe.
ZRP Manicaland Press and Public Relations
