This year from the beginning of the summer period, 100 people have lost their lives at sea and there is no day that the Port Police has not recorded at least three deaths. The first 15 days of July, 51 deaths from various regions of Greece were recorded. Among the 51 victims only 8 were younger than 60 years old, while the majority was over 70. The rate of deaths in Greece has raised a little this year but this does not mean that Greeks do not know how to swim and consequently they get drowned.
The chief of the Port Police, Mr. Paraskevas said that every year many deaths of elderly people are recorded but we never know the cause of the deaths, which is later discovered after an autopsy. Cardiologist, Mr. Rabousis explains that the elderly have a frail medical history (coronary heart diseases, hypertension, sugar diabetes etc.) and take medicine. All these in combination with high temperatures in the summer cause further fall of the blood pressure, so the elderly might feel weak, dizzy or faint. That is why it would be better if the elderly visited their doctor before going swimming to change their treatment and to get basic advice.
Regarding young people, the Port Police have made an animated cartoon video especially for primary school students, so that they are made aware about how to behave in the sea. The DVD was presented at 60 primary schools of Piraeus for two weeks and the project will continue next year, as well.
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