It Took the World to
Save the Trapped Thai Boys
(Written from 'The Spectator's View” makes a powerful statement!)
It's amazing how 2 and 3 words have such impact on the drama of the
situation!
They
were lost
and then found.
They
were trapped
and then set
free.
They
faced an excruciating
death but
were lovingly guided
back
to life
by strangers who risked everything.
And on Tuesday when the last of the Thai boys and their coach were
rescued from the flooded caves in which they had been trapped for
more than 2 weeks ~
the world rejoiced.
No
wonder. Mission
impossible
had become mission
accomplished.
Millions of prayers
and dozens of languages
had been answered. All you had to hear were 3 little words from the
Thai navy Seal unit directing the operation ~ They
are Safe
to breathe a little more easily again. You knew that a scarcely
imaginable 17-day ordeal was over ~ that an international emergency
response had succeeded and that the horrific narrative of these 12
young boys and their 25-year-old adult accompanyng them had ended ~
better than most people had expected.
Led by its coach, a kid's soccer team had entered a cave system in
northern Thailand
on June 23 befire disappearing as surging monsoon waters swept
into the caverns.
Only last week did a team of British divers locate them ~ hungry
and frightened ~ perched on a rocky shelf above the rising flood
waters in a dark chamber more than 3 kilometres from the cave's
entrance.
Then came the monumental challenge of bringing everyone out ~
through deep water in places ~ through narrow passage ways ~ where
oxygen tanks had to be removed, in others.
There was always a risk torrential monsoon rains would engulf them
or prevent the rescue for months.
Machines
pumped
water out:
divers took
oxygen tanks in.
The rescue effort brought nations together. Of the 90 expert
divers involved, 50 were from Thailand ~ the rest from a host of
countries including Britain and the United States. A Chilean miner
who had been trapped underground in his country for 69 days earlier
this decade, offered help
.
Each boy, and finally the coach, was taken out by 2 divers guided
by a fixed line. It took each pair of divers 6 hours to reach the
trapped and weary soccer team ~ then another 5 hours to return to
safety.
While the whole team escaped: former Thai navy Seal, Saman Kunan
died last Friday when his oxygen ran out as he placed air tanks in
the caves.
His self-sacrifice should not be forgotten.
The world was right to give thanks on Tuesday ~ the story of these
boys resounded so profoundly.
But it did because we could feel for them, so young, vulnerable
and terrified ~ while empathizing with their distraught families. It
did, because in this life-and-death-struggle, human courage,
compassion, co-operation and know-how, tipped the scales in favour of
life.
And perhaps it did because while the sheer magnitude of some human
suffering
can render it incomprehensible, we could on this occasion fully
understand
what was happening to a small group of unfortunate individuals.
Before we shut our eyes, we might imagine how great this world
would be ~ if the caring love that saved those boys and their coach,
could be extended to more of the millions of other humans needing it.
Written by The Hamilton Spectator, I fully support their view and
opinion
and trust the message is significant to all mankind.
Postscript:
Each of the boys, ages 11 to 16 and with no diving experience, was
guided out by divers through rocky, muddy and water-filled passages
that in places that were just a 'crawl-space'. The method was
extremely risky, but dwindling oxygen levels in the cave and fears of
more monsoon rains to come, made a decision urgent!
It was sad to read that some of the boys could not swim.
Precautions
~ Don't Drown!
“It's
important, experts say, to teach your children a healthy respect of
water and to ensure they wear approved life-jackets when near it,”
states Leslie Barker in the Dallas Morning News.
A colour photo accompanying this article is of 2 happy young children
standing
in shallow lake water ~ clad in shorts with sunhats and life-jackets.
Tips to do All you Can to Prevent what's More Possible Than you
Think:
A swim teacher of many years, when asked by parent(s),
At what level can my kids be considered safe in the water?
Her answer is NEVER!
A
life guard doesn't mean you can let your guard down.
Their job is to scan the entire pool
Drowning
can occur in mere inches of water.
Lifeguards have pulled kids out of 2-foot wading pools.
Everyone
needs to take swimming lessons .Formal
swim classes can reduce drownings by 88%.
Memorize
this mantra: 'Back to theWall!'
Most people who drown are within reaching the pool wall.
Hold
your breath.
People drown because they can't get a breath.
Learn
to roll over onto your back
~ an easy way to catch your breath.
Practice
what you are learning so it becomes automatic.
Be
Cautious.
You must have a healthy respect for the water.
Invest
in a life-jacket.
Remember, 'water-wings' are not life jackets.
If
you swim in brown water, wear a life-jacket.
This and creek water means less visibility.
Put
your phone away!
Most, today, live in a 'heads-down-world. It takes only 20 seconds
for a child to become unconscious ~ a silent struggle below the water
surface.
Drowning
isn't loud and frantic!
Adopt swimming experts mantra ~
Reach! Throw! Don't Go!
Fence
your home pool, even if your kids can swim.
Pool fences reduce risk of drowning by 85%.
* * * * * * *
Personal
Experience:
I couldn't swim ~ and nearly drowned twice before engaging in 'swim
lessons.'
It's scary...it's humiliating...it's self-demeaning! I couldn't
swim!
Raised on a farm near a village's outskirts ~ no pool. The only
access to swimming was Whiteman's Creek located outside the village
area. All the kids and school friends learned to swim in the creek!
It was a 'swimming hole' ~ just 'jump in ~ paddle like a dog! My
parents never swam ~ always lived on farms ~ therefore no necessity ~
ergo, my sister and I were never allowed in Whiteman's Creek!
In teen years, we worked at a Christian camp on Lake Erie's shore. We
were told of the sand-bar several feet out...with a raft nearby for
fun...just wade out and enjoy yourself. And twice I nearly drowned
with water over my head. At age 18, studying in Toronto, I took
formal swim-classes for adults. 'Tis always easy, when you know how!'
For me, this was a great achievement.
Composed by Merle Baird-Kerr...July 12, 2018
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