Ensuring children's safety during the summer

The province currently has over 614,000 children under 16 years old. To strengthen child protection and care, proactively prevent and minimize accidents, injuries, and drowning, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a directive to departments, agencies, and localities to implement comprehensive measures to ensure the absolute safety of children during the summer and rainy seasons.

The province currently has over 614,000 children under 16 years old. To strengthen child protection and care, proactively prevent and minimize accidents, injuries, and drowning, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a directive to departments, agencies, and localities to implement comprehensive measures to ensure the absolute safety of children during the summer and rainy seasons.

The province organizes many free swimming lessons during the summer, as well as risk prevention skills training, to help children better protect themselves. Photo: S. TRANG

According to reports from the health sector, drowning is currently the leading cause of death among children. Statistics show that in 2025, the entire province recorded 9 deaths due to drowning. Even more alarming, in just the first four months of 2026, there were already 3 tragic deaths from this accident.

"According to analyses by authorities, most drowning incidents stem from the carelessness and negligence of adults. Meanwhile, young children are active, unaware of the dangers, and lack survival skills in aquatic environments," said Lam Nhu Quynh, Deputy Director of the Department of Health.

A tragic accident occurred in Cang Long commune when adults carelessly left a baby boy, just over 15 months old, in the care of his older brother. The brother, distracted by playing, caused the baby to fall into a ditch in front of their house, resulting in his death. In Cai Ngang commune, a 12-year-old student who didn't know how to swim went swimming in the river with a friend and drowned. These incidents highlight the urgent need to teach swimming and equip students with drowning prevention skills.

Not only in the open air, but even within the family home, children can still be in danger due to the carelessness of adults in their daily lives. Medical records show that injuries to children during the summer mainly include traffic accidents, burns, head injuries, broken limbs, and choking on foreign objects.

Given the increasing and complex nature of injuries among children during the summer and rainy seasons, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a directive requiring the entire political system, from the provincial to the grassroots level, to closely monitor their respective areas and seriously implement key tasks aimed at protecting children.

Local authorities are required to immediately inspect and promptly address high-risk areas such as ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, deep water pits, and construction sites. In these areas, relevant agencies must erect warning signs, install sturdy barriers, and deploy personnel to regularly remind people of the risks.

The province requires the organization of safe and healthy summer activities, creating opportunities for children to learn swimming and disaster response skills. Local authorities will continue to prioritize free swimming lessons for disadvantaged children and those in flood-prone areas. This activity requires inter-sectoral coordination between health, education and training, culture, sports and tourism, police, and youth organizations.

The relevant units coordinate the management of students during the summer, mobilizing local self-governing groups to supervise and ensure the safety of children. The Department of Health directs medical facilities to prepare sufficient personnel, medicines, and equipment to promptly receive and treat children involved in accidents; and strengthens first aid training for the community…

Commenting on this issue, Ms. Lam Nhu Quynh added: The health sector has identified this as an urgent task requiring coordinated efforts from families, schools, and the entire society. The health sector is directing increased communication on preventing drowning and injuries during the summer; organizing training in first aid skills and safety skills for children and parents, especially in riverside areas, coastal regions, and high-risk areas.

According to Dr. Tran Dang Khoa, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Xuyen A General Hospital in Vinh Long, most cases of poisoning and injuries in children are preventable if families strictly implement safety measures. In any incident, early detection and timely transport of children to medical facilities are crucial to preventing unfortunate consequences.

MOON RIVER

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/xa-hoi/202605/bao-dam-an-toan-cho-tre-em-trong-dip-he-5033b83/