Why these are avoidable tragedies

New Delhi: The drowning of 12-year-old Saksham Sehrawat at Wynberg-Allen School has raised serious concerns about swimming pool safety and supervision in India, with experts in the fields of sports, medicine and public safety stressing the urgent need for stricter protocols, proper lifeguard deployment and enhanced emergency response measures to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.
Meenakshi Pahuja, an international swimmer and head of physical education at Lady Shri Ram College, emphasised that swimming is an essential life skill that should be encouraged. However, incidents like the one in Mussoorie not only cause heartbreak, but also create fear among parents about allowing their children to learn the sport.
"I have been swimming for the past 47 years, and it is a necessary life skill to learn. I have also been teaching swimming for years. Such an incident is not only saddening, but also sets the wrong impression, scaring parents away from enrolling their children in swimming lessons," she said.
Although lifeguard requirements may vary for different types of pools — whether international, govt or private facilities — certain universal safety standards exist, said Pahuja.
"For a 50-metre pool, at least eight lifeguards should be present. For a 25-metre pool, a minimum of four lifeguards is essential. Even in an 18-metre pool, at least two lifeguards should be on duty," she said.
Pahuja said that there is a common misconception about the roles of a swimming coach and a lifeguard, pointing out that they are distinct positions requiring different skill sets.
"A lifeguard is not the same as a coach. Often, people assume that if a coach is present, safety is taken care of. However, a coach is an instructor, responsible for teaching technique and training swimmers. A lifeguard, on the other hand, undergoes specialised training to monitor safety, remain vigilant and respond swiftly to emergencies. Expecting a coach to act as a lifeguard, or vice-versa, is not how pool safety should function," she said.
To enhance swimmer safety, she suggested that new or less experienced swimmers be required to wear red swim caps to make them easily distinguishable in a crowded pool.
Medical experts stressed on the importance of proper emergency response when rescuing a drowning victim. Dr M Wali, senior consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the response can significantly impact survival chances. He cautioned against administering CPR without first expelling water from the victim's lungs.
"That's the biggest mistake people make. The first step should be to turn the person onto their stomach with their back facing up. Then, pump the body to force out as much water as possible before performing CPR. If water remains in the lungs, attempting resuscitation too soon can create a bottle-like effect — where air simply moves in and out without clearing the water from the lungs," he said, adding in drowning cases, victims should be rushed to a medical facility equipped with a respiratory ICU rather than a general emergency service.
A Sports Authority of India official stressed the importance of clear visibility for lifeguards stationed around a pool. He said no section of a pool should have a blind spot where a lifeguard's vision is obstructed.
"We ensure lifeguards have clear visibility up to at least 15 metres in all directions. If additional coverage is needed, more lifeguards must be stationed to ensure every section is monitored without obstruction," he added.