As if it is not already a big problem that so many lives of young people are lost, seriously impaired or traumatised through different man-made ills such as drug abuse or hazardous driving, to give just two examples, it appears that certain youngsters are now being overtaken by the temptation of certain “adventures”. This includes the craze of plunging into the sea from heights with all the risks this entails.
Both Maltese and foreign victims of cliff diving have been admitted to Mater Dei Hospital’s Emergency Department every summer for a few years now. But this dangerous trend appears to be on the increase. Doctors have been seeing injuries ranging from arm and leg fractures caused by hitting the seabed to spraining or breaking the spine on impact with the surface.
Accidents at sea do happen. Even experienced and cautious divers may sometimes end up in hospital. However, jumping from great heights for the fun of it without keeping in mind that inexperience and unpredictable factors could cost one’s life or cause permanent injury can never be tolerated, let alone condoned.
The same could be said about swimming in dangerous currents, sometimes directly against the guidelines of experienced lifeguards or public notices. In so doing, such people may end up not only risking their lives but also putting at risk their rescuers’.
No wonder some lifeguards have been speaking in favour of having officially authorised, sufficiently trained people empowered to take the necessary action when dealing with individuals who, the more they are advised not to take certain risks, the more they go ahead with doing so.
Members of the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps have lately been very busy, with multiple rescues in a single day also being reported. There was also the case of two traffic policemen who rescued a foreigner who found himself in difficulty while swimming in rough seas and the other case of an off-duty police officer who rescued a 58-year-old Maltese man who was unable to swim back to shore. There must, of course, be other unpublicised cases of courageous people intervening to save swimmers from dangerous situations.
This summer’s casualty list would have been much longer had it not been for the timely interventions, often at self risk, of such altruistic persons. Their actions deserve to be appreciated and commended. But we cannot stop there. The situation also calls for an update in the country’s response to such problems.
Much has been done through certain measures, for instance by having zones reserved for swimmers and by controlling the risk that may be caused by boat owners who, at times, fail to take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents.
In view of what has been happening, there also appears to be an urgent need to launch a well-planned and coordinated educational campaign, with special focus on young people, about the priceless value of life and the need to invariably desist from putting it at avoidable risks.
In summer, such a campaign should aim, perhaps particularly, at young foreigners visiting the country, especially those with a bigger tendency for certain adventures. However, it should also concentrate on Maltese youngsters who may be tempted to emulate their foreign peers not only in diving from too high points but also in terms of certain risky trends such as planking, where young people pose face down in unusual, often dangerous locations.