90% of drowning deaths due to pre-swim boozing (ToI)

Bindiya Chari,TNN | Nov 4, 2014, 01.14 AM ISTPanaji: A few days ago at one of the popular beaches of North Goa, a middle-aged woman drowned as she continued swimming despite repeated warnings by two lifeguards to get out of the water. When she was brought to the shore in a semiconscious condition, she was reeking of alcohol, sources said. She was soon declared dead.

This is not a rare incident, tourism department figures show that in 90% of drowning cases it has been found that the deceased had got into the water after consuming liquor and food.

Between 2008 and 2013, about 30 drowning deaths were reported from various beaches in Goa; and of theses deaths, 70% were Indians, 13% foreigners and 17% locals.

The tourism department will now install signage at beaches to inform tourists about safety measures, as well as general instructions to prevent such incidents.

Tourism director Ameya Abhyankar told TOI that the signage are ready and are being verified. They will be installed within the next three weeks, he added.

Lifeguards told TOI that though drinking on beaches is banned, several tourists carry alcohol with them to the beaches, consume the same, and then want to swim. "How do you stop such people from going into the water? There are also those who drink elsewhere and come to swim. Some sit in their cars and drink," a lifeguard pointed out.

The tourism director said drinking on beaches has come under control to a large extent following the posting of IRB personnel.

Domestic tourists sometimes also get into trouble as they try to follow foreign women swimming in the seas. "Most of the foreign tourists are good swimmers and go deep into the sea and more importantly, they adhere to lifeguards' warnings," said Abhyankar.

"If we spot Indian tourists following foreign tourists and ask them to move away, they take offence and start fighting," said a lifeguard at Sinquerim, while insisting that the government should put some boards at beaches educating tourists on how to behave.  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/90-of-drowning-deaths-due-to-pre-swim-boozing/articleshow/45028426.cms