The Alliance for Safe Children
Encyclopedia
The Alliance for Safe Children (TASC) is a non-profit organization formed in 2002 to address the issue of child injury in the developing world. The founder is Pete Peterson
, former United States Ambassador to Vietnam
. Michael Linnon is the technical director.
TASC works in cooperation with other organizations, such as the Red Cross
and UNICEF.
Its aims include raising awareness of child injury; promoting injury prevention programmes; conducting and supporting research; and
raising funds and creating alliances with NGOs, international organisations and governments so that the number of child injuries can be reduced.
TASC's objectives are driven in part by studies suggesting that far more children die from preventable injury than from infectious disease - according to UNICEF about one million children die of preventible injuries each year. A common specific cause of death is drowning.
, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, who praised TASC and its founder. The conference, according to a report to the Executive Board of UNICEF, was to lead to "the development of programmes on child injury prevention." In 2008 the results of their seven-year "groundbreaking study" were published, in a report that indicated that suffocation and drowning were the most easily preventable causes of death for children under five years of age. The publication of the report generated interest from printed media around the world and from Australian television.
. With help from the Australian government, TASC partnered with the Royal Life Saving Society Australia
, in establishing an International Drowning Research Centre based in Dhaka
and opened in August 2010. In Bangladesh, an estimated 46 children drown each day, and four times as many nearly drown. The aim is to teach children, especially those from poorer sections of society, how to swim, with the focus being on teaching older children "who can not only save themselves but can also help others." The centre also teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation
and basic rescue skills.
Pete Peterson
Douglas Brian "Pete" Peterson was a U.S. Air Force pilot who spent over six years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese Army after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. He returned to Hanoi in 1997 as the first United States Ambassador to Vietnam...
, former United States Ambassador to Vietnam
United States Ambassador to Vietnam
The United States Ambassador to Vietnam is the chief American diplomat to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. After the First Indochina War and the defeat of the French dominion over Vietnam, the nation was split into North and South Vietnam at the Geneva Conference of 1954...
. Michael Linnon is the technical director.
TASC works in cooperation with other organizations, such as the Red Cross
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
and UNICEF.
Its aims include raising awareness of child injury; promoting injury prevention programmes; conducting and supporting research; and
raising funds and creating alliances with NGOs, international organisations and governments so that the number of child injuries can be reduced.
TASC's objectives are driven in part by studies suggesting that far more children die from preventable injury than from infectious disease - according to UNICEF about one million children die of preventible injuries each year. A common specific cause of death is drowning.
2004 conference and 2008 report
They worked with UNICEF, with whom they organized a conference in 2004 that reported on their findings from surveys and research; the keynote speaker was Kul GautamKul Gautam
Kul Chandra Gautam, from Nepal, is a distinguished international civil servant from Nepal. He was the former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, special advisor to the Prime Minister of Nepal on...
, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, who praised TASC and its founder. The conference, according to a report to the Executive Board of UNICEF, was to lead to "the development of programmes on child injury prevention." In 2008 the results of their seven-year "groundbreaking study" were published, in a report that indicated that suffocation and drowning were the most easily preventable causes of death for children under five years of age. The publication of the report generated interest from printed media around the world and from Australian television.
International Drowning Research Centre
Since 2005, TASC has assisted organizations in providing swimming lessons for children in BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. With help from the Australian government, TASC partnered with the Royal Life Saving Society Australia
Royal Life Saving Society Australia
Royal Life Saving Society Australia has been serving Australia for over 110 years and is the leading water safety, swimming and lifesaving education organisation in Australia. It is active all over Australia. Its branches, members, volunteers, trainers and lifesavers are found in almost all...
, in establishing an International Drowning Research Centre based in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
and opened in August 2010. In Bangladesh, an estimated 46 children drown each day, and four times as many nearly drown. The aim is to teach children, especially those from poorer sections of society, how to swim, with the focus being on teaching older children "who can not only save themselves but can also help others." The centre also teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
and basic rescue skills.