For these Kasimedu fishermen, saving lives is second nature

Youngsters are undergoing training to become lifeguards on beaches

CHENNAI, 23/05/2018: For Downtown : Lifeguard training program held at Kasimedu beach in Chennai on Wednesday. Photo : B.Jothi Ramalingam

The sea, for them, is a source of livelihood. As fishermen, they say that they don’t like to see lives being lost to waves and currents.

A group of youngsters from Kasimedu, which is now undergoing life guard and first-aid training, said that they will soon be able to save more lives.

K. Vinoth, founder, Chennai Tiruvallur District Progressive Fishermen Association, recalls that when they helped to trace the body of a young boy who was washed away from the Marina last year, they decided that they must do something to save lives.

“If there had been a lifeguard on the Marina, lives won’t be lost. Since there is no one to control those who enter the water, those who don’t know to swim are easily carried away by the waves and currents,” he said.

Learning techniques

The training is being provided by the Pune-based Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India) with funds from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation through the Fisheries Department. Tarun Murugesh, life guard and first-aid trainer with the society who has been training the boys for the past three days, said that though the youngsters were able to swim in the water, they needed to learn rescue techniques.

“For instance, when you go to save someone in the water, don’t dip your head in the water as otherwise you may lose sight of the victim. Similarly, don’t save the victim by pulling their hair as it may lead to spinal damage. When you bring back the victim from the water let them lie on their side,” he told the participants.

Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said that this batch was being trained on a pilot basis to see whether alternative employment opportunities could be created for fishermen.

“We want our beaches to be safe. But we are looking for corporates sponsors for paying salaries for fishermen who are trained. If companies come forward, beaches that have recorded deaths could be made safer,” he said.