A report from the Jing Chuan Child Safety Foundation reveals that Taiwanese children are three times more likely to drown than Australian children. The director of the foundation called on schools and parents to make swimming and water education a priority.

Unfortunately, over the past year the foundation's message has not been heeded. In fact, this year cases of death by drowning have actually increased. Preliminary reports from the National Fire Agency reveal 140 people — including many children — have died of drowning so far this year, compared with 119 in the same period last year.

Many explanations for the unusually high number of local drowning victims have been offered. A Chinese cultural attitude of fear towards water could be a factor in stymieing early childhood swimming classes. And perhaps even deadlier is the appalling lack of water-related education. When visiting river and beach areas, one can see children bobbing around in waist-high water as parents pay no mind. Young people frequently swim with jeans and clothing on, unaware that heavy wet clothes can pull a person to a watery doom.

Therefore, we must both shock and educate the public into taking water more seriously. With the combined educational efforts of schools, parents, and a massive government campaign, deaths from drowning can be significantly reduced. Hopefully, next summer we will be able to report some positive progress.

to drown (v.) 溺死If you try to swim against a rip tide, you'll get tired and could drown.

preliminary (adj.) 初步的The school's preliminary decision is to put Sheila on academic probation.

victim (n.) 受害者;遇难者The victims of excessive noise pollution are each and every one of us.

attitude (n.) 态度A positive attitude is important for success.

appalling (adj.) 骇人的;低劣糟糕的The most appalling thing about that company are the working hours.

to bob (v.) 上下(来回)快速摆动;轻敲Dolphins bob up and down in the water for people's entertainment.

doom (n.) 厄运;毁灭Paul's career will end in hopeless doom if he doesn't succeed on this project.

to have not (been) heeded/to have (been) heeded 不(被)注意∕(被)注意The signs near rivers have been heeded, resulting in no fatalities this year.

unusually high number (of) (…) 数量出乎异常的高An unusually high number of dead birds have been discovered lately.

to pay no mind 不予理会Pay no mind to him-he's spoiled and won't change his attitude anytime soon.