International Drowning
Prevention
Conference by
the PCMF at Dubai Expo 2020
Dubai 23/03/2022. The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation (PCMF) hosted a drowning prevention conference inviting international experts at the greatest global gathering in history of Dubai Expo 2020.
Since 2014, the PCMF has benefited about 1.000.000 people (mainly children). From the 40 countries that host its activity, it selected 6 international experts to share their expertise and good practices, review their activities and suggest innovative ideas on drowning prevention at the “Dubai Expo 2020”.
Dr. Stathis Avramidis (President Greek Lifesaving Sports Association; Officer National Public Health Organization; and Teacher of Lifeguarding and Lifesaving Sport at the University of Athens, Greece), said: “The GLSA was founded by people to serve all the people on drowning prevention, in loving memory of 3 relatives that lost their lives at sea.” He presented the GLSA’s achievements and suggested means of collaboration on water safety and lifesaving sport among the ally organizations of the PCFM.
Dr. Avramidis spoke about the rich work that has taken place since 2014 through the project “Safe Greece”. Since 2014, the project has benefited about 25,000 people and educated or informed hundreds of thousands through books, programs, competitions and a magazine. To honor the fruitful relationship between the two organizations, the PCMF prepared and screened a wonderful video about the project. The footage portrays teaching at ANOG, the club of Kiriakos Giannoupoulos, President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and includes comments by Tasos Papanastasiou OLY (ANOG Director), Ioanna Sacha (National Champion Swimmer) and Dr. Avramidis.
Pierre Frolla (Ambassador of the Foundation, Freedive World Champion, and President of the Centre de Sauvetage Aquatique et de Plongée de Monaco), said that “my world records helped me understand that all things are important if you share them. That is why I founded the Monaco Sea”. He underlined that if a celebrity is doing something nice, the child can identify him and relate with it. That is why he is teaching water safety, lifesaving and free diving.
Kate Eardley (Head of International Advocacy, Royal National
Lifeboat Institution, UK), said that “practice is more important that what we call
the latest kit”. Improvised water safety devices made by materials that can
be found anywhere have been used successfully for teaching lifesaving and
survival skills in various countries.
Md Shafkat
Hossain (Intervention Manager-SeaSafe project Centre for Injury Prevention and Research,
Bangladesh), show a video
with two parents speaking about the children they lost from drowning and spoke
about the work his organization does to reduce drowning. He used the words of a
lifeguard who works at the Cox’s Bazar beach with the implementation of the
“Sea Safe” solution: “It is not for the
money, it is for our passion. It is for our country. For saving lives!”
Matteo Cavalleroni (Secretary General of Help Code, Italy), and Chey Rattana (Technical Operation Manager Help Code, Cambodia), made a joined presentation and said that “we want our countries to be sustainable and only if our citizens are safe this can succeed. Only together we can do it.” The Cambodia Children’s Drowning Prevention Program raises awareness to thousands of children since 2018.
On
behalf of the PCMF, the event was wonderfully led by the General Manager Pascal Granero who was assisted by the
Social Media Manager Camille
Gattuso. The conference took place at the Monaco Pavilion.
The Dubai Expo 2020 is the world’s largest destination where all cultures and countries meet and exchange ideas. The experts had the opportunity to know each other and to see many Pavilions including those of their countries.
The
PCMF is making a difference in the field of drowning prevention around the
globe. As the HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco says, “together we can save lives – one person, one family, one community at a time!”
Dr. Avramidis’ attendance was made with the kind permission of Prof. Theoklis Zaoutis, President of the National Public Health Organization.
