India-Australia meet on drowning prevention: Kerala Minister stresses water safety education

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 25 (UNI) Kerala Health and Family Welfare Minister K Muraleedharan on Sunday called for mandatory water safety education for children from an early age, on a par with road safety awareness, stressing that swimming was an essential life-saving skill in a state like Kerala, with its extensive network of rivers, canals and other water bodies. Inaugurating the India-Australia Technical Committee meeting on drowning prevention here, the Minister stressed the need for comprehensive safety measures at hazardous locations, including quarries, canals, riverbanks and coastal areas, alongside stronger rescue networks and community-based training programmes. He also called for expanding cardiopulmonary…