The challenge of supporting children trapped in a cave in Thailand – Asia – International

A new day is coming and waiting to know how to save the thirteen people trapped in the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Raig, in northern Thailand, is not over.

This is a group of twelve children who, accompanied by their coach, decided to venture into this tourist attraction after completing their usual football practice. The reasons why these children and their 25-year-old trainer must reach their current position are still a question of investigation .

On July 2, the rescuers managed to get to where the group was. it had been lost a week ago, exactly 800 meters deep.

The first tests of survival scared the fears of an early death for these minors from 11 to 16 years. After the cooperation of more than 1,000 rescuers, some of the United States. UU and Australia, the affected people were found in good health. Immediately, they received food, shelter and medicine.

The football team "Wild boars", with more than 13 days without knowing the sunlight, waits for the rains in the area to stop and allow the evacuation of the most large amount of water that has flooded the part of where they are currently accessing.

To make matters worse, the rains, which should continue until October, caused the rocks to collapse which narrowed the space where this group entered, limiting some access at heights of only one meter and others who do not. admit the pbadage of a person with an oxygen tank .

One of the aspects that worries most, the parents and for the Thai authorities, it is the most Emotional state of the group that is trapped in the cave, because after almost ten days without food and with the latent fear of not being found, his nervous system has known strong variations

. and, despite the fact that the children and the coach said that they felt physically and mentally fit, and the challenge of keeping the group motivated and full of hope does not to begin . [19] 659002] Eight years ago, 33 Chilean miners were trapped nearly 700 meters underground for 67 days. To survive at that time, in overcrowded conditions and temperatures above 35 degrees, not only could they reach with the food that had been sent to them by a probe, but also through the mental force that these men had.
In dialogue with El TIEMPO, Luis Urzúa, the leader of the tour, at the time, of the 33 miners, highlights the keys that led the group to keep the hope of being saved.

"They can not stop talking boys and their coach, the contact must be permanent.What kept us with faith and hope was to be in constant contact with the outside world and to know that they were doing all they could to save us. "

The game of possibilities that exist to save these young people guarantees latent risks they like rescuers, but, what is certain is that any method used will take months.

It is there that the work of the coach must be preponderant, according to Luis, to transform his role within the group: " The goal of the coach is now to go down to level of children and to give them the impression of being all equal All must be born with faith and hope, which will shelter them in the psychological part. "

Urzúa has become the icon of this rescue mission because of his leadership work inside the mine, so he recommends that to ensure a healthy coexistence and maintain the hope is It is essential that children and the coach give priority to collective interests before the individual.

"If there was a discussion or a fight, we would talk about it together. The most important thing is to maintain the atmosphere of the group, not to let the fighting or the rubbing the damage . The key is to talk about everything and avoid grudging with other colleagues. "

To stay more than 13 days apart from their families among them without knowing whether they were going to find them or not, to stay in a cave surrounded by water, Whenever one can increase one's level, it's a psychological situation for minors that can generate future trauma.

Angela Rosales, National Director of SOS Children's Villages Colombia, a foundation that works with children in vulnerable situations, told EL TIEMPO the benefits it can have in the minds of young people, the ongoing dialogue with their parents.

"The only important reference that the child has to their family ties, in essence, the family bond is what will ensure that children stay upright and also out of panic ."

It is essential for authorities who work in psychological support tasks, preserve the condition of children who have the twelve minors trapped in the cave, as this newspaper told the director Rosales: " we must help children to, include In these conditions, they can be children, that is to say that they do not lose the interest to eat, to take care of themselves, to learn something , to have a play area. Listen to them as well, that they can express themselves and listen to their ideas about going out, all of which takes care of their emotional well-being and their mental health. "

Saving this group is a difficult task. Rescuers are working on the time trial, since they have to evacuate as much water as possible (1945-19007) until they have extracted more than 129 million liters of water. ) to hope to get out the children without having to teach them. diving, which seems to be the most viable option, even though most children do not even know how to swim.

Another of the outings is to wait until the water level drops so that children can walk or swim, however, this opportunity would take about four months.

SEBASTIAN CORREA
INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL