Drownings 'Can be Reduced to Zero'
Estonia should follow Sweden's example and set a goal to minimize drownings, said Dr. Anu Kasmel, a health promotion specialist and board member of the Estonian Health Foundation.
Speaking Tuesday on ETV, Kasmel pointed out that while there were 91 drowning deaths in Estonia this year, not all were caused by poor swimming ability. Many cases, she noted, involved intoxication or healthy men overestimating their abilities. Other instances involved small children who drowned in ponds close to their homes, she said.
"What is the most thought-provoking, is that our Swedish colleagues say that [drownings] are all preventable, absolutely all of them. The number could be zero, and that's the goal they've set for themselves by 2025," said Kasmel.
Kasmel's comments came at the conclusion of a contest, set up by the Estonian Health Foundation, for ideas on how to tackle the issue of accidental drowning in the country.