Nurul Halawati Azhari, Bernama New Straits Times 17 Dec 07;
The floods that have inundated the states of Kelantan, Johor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan have steadily worsened. The number of evacuees moved to relief centres has risen to 29,176 while as of dec 17, 22 people had drowned in the floods since it struck last Dec 8.
In the past week, news of people drowning in the flood waters made the headlines in the media but the irony of the situation was that the victims met their death while frolicking in the river or irrigation channels.
Such ’deadly excitement’ playing in the flood waters had drawn the attention of Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who called on people in flood-hit areas to abandon the thoughts of playing in the ’water carnival.’
The Kelantan Police Chief who is upset with the whole situation, expressed his anger and frustration against parents who allowed their children to play in the flood waters, making them victims to the fast flowing water currents.
However, some of the drowning cases could have been avoided by simply staying away from the flood waters as this not a ’wet theme park’ where people can have fun frolicking in the water.
LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE
Water is just like fire. It is friendly when small but grows into a danger when it is big. And before we are engulfed by this danger, it is better to take precautions.
However in some areas, the floods which are seasonal, are welcomed with much delight. This is the time when children and adults alike, armed with nets, go out looking for freshwater fish that may have swim out of overflowing aquaculture ponds.
Others would have a gala time splashing in the flood waters. The print and electronic media had reported that parents blatantly showed their lackadaisical attitude by bringing out their small children to play in the rapidly rising flood waters.
Not to be left out are the ’mat rempit’ or speed fiends on motorbikes where their pictures doing ’wheelies’ on their machines in the floods were prominently displayed in the newspapers recently.
The police as well as the Fire and Rescue Department had, on countless of times reminded the public to be wary of the dangers posed by the rapidly flowing flood waters, but unfortunately this had fallen on deaf ears.
RED CRESCENT
A field officer of the National Red Crescent Association (PBSM), Nasir Khan Abd Rahman, said the fun felt while frolicking in the floods can make one to be unaware of the dangers lurking in the water.
They are not only in danger of drowning but there is a high risk that they may get bitten by poisonous snakes that are carried by the rapid currents as well as being exposed to water-borne diseases like cholera as well as skin allergies cased by contaminated or toxic substances.
People in flood-hit areas are advised against eating food that had been tainted by flood water as the food could have been contaminated by bacteria or other micro-organisms.
They are also advised to only drink boiled treated water or the mineral water supplied by relief agencies, said Nasir Khan.
He said:"If those in the flood-hit areas accidentally drink the flood water, they should immediately seek treatment at any clinic as the contaminated water may cause the victim to suffer from vomiting as well as diarrhea”.
Nasir Khan said the PBSM also assists the other relief agencies by supplying rescue boats and ambulances to the flood-hit areas.
“We have volunteers working round-the-clock to help those affected by the flood”, he said.
Nasir Khan said 30 PBSM volunteers had been dispatched to Johor while 80 are in Kelantan, 40 in Pahang and another 20 in Terengganu.
