Suburban areas of Hanoi:

With the arrival of summer, prolonged heatwaves have led to a surge in demand for places to cool off in ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. However, in recent times, many drowning incidents involving children have occurred in various localities. To strengthen drowning prevention measures for children during the summer, starting from the beginning of April 2026, localities in the outskirts of Hanoi have proactively taken action, implementing drastic measures with a focus on prevention rather than remediation.

Instructing students at Thach Hoa Junior High School (Hoa Lac commune) on first aid methods for drowning victims. Photo: Van Hang.

Diverse forms of propaganda

On the afternoon of May 20th, at the Lotus Pond area in Ngoc Than village, Kieu Phu commune, where a tragic drowning incident occurred last April, reporters from the Hanoi News and Broadcasting Agency observed that the scene of children gathering to swim in the pond was no longer as before. Warning signs reading "Deep water area, dangerous, beware of drowning" were posted around the pond. Residents living near the area and in the village regularly reminded children not to play or swim in the Lotus Pond. Mr. Nguyen Van Long (from Ngoc Than village) shared: "After the drowning incident, the commune and village have intensified propaganda on preventing drowning among children. Aware of the dangers of swimming in ponds and lakes, families in the village and commune have been more closely supervising their children and no longer allow them to swim in the pond."

Speaking with reporters, Trieu Thi Nhat, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Kieu Phu Commune, said that since mid-April 2026, the Commune People's Committee has issued a document strengthening the prevention and control of drowning among children to agencies, units, schools, and villages in the area. Accordingly, to minimize the risk of drowning, the Commune People's Committee has requested agencies, functional forces, villages, and schools to simultaneously implement many solutions, such as: intensifying propaganda to raise awareness among parents and children about drowning; reviewing, inspecting, and compiling a list of areas with a high potential for drowning, and based on that, installing additional warning signs, fences, and lifebuoys…

In Duong Hoa commune, the prevention and control of child injuries, especially drowning prevention, is being implemented comprehensively in a way that reaches "every locality, every school, and every household." According to Nguyen Viet Thanh, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Duong Hoa commune, to minimize the risk of drowning, the department has coordinated with villages to inspect all ponds, lakes, and wells in the area and assess their current condition. Based on the inspection, we have requested villages to add warning signs and lifebuoys at dangerous points, and proposed that the commune People's Committee invest in building additional safety fences for young children…

Similarly, Ung Thien commune, which has nearly 100 ponds and lakes of various sizes posing potential safety risks to children, is also stepping up efforts to raise awareness, inspect dangerous ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, and erect warning signs... in order to improve awareness of drowning prevention among residents and children. According to Pham Van Thao, Vice Chairman of the Ung Thien Commune People's Committee, the commune is focusing on promoting drowning prevention skills, organizing swimming lessons and teaching water safety skills to children, and mobilizing the participation of families, schools, and the entire society in protecting children from the risk of drowning accidents.

Focus on teaching skills to children.

While in the past, drowning prevention efforts mainly focused on public awareness campaigns, this year many suburban areas of Hanoi have placed greater emphasis on equipping children with drowning prevention skills.

Although Hoa Lac commune doesn't have many ponds or lakes, the Tan Xa lake area has been a "hot spot" for drowning incidents during the summer for many years. Therefore, along with posting warning signs and intensifying propaganda about the risk of drowning, the commune's People's Committee has directed the organization of activities to help students identify risks and know how to handle situations when accidents occur, especially drowning. Specifically, recently (May 18th), a training session on preventing injuries and drowning accidents, and providing basic first aid methods, was organized for hundreds of students at Thach Hoa Secondary School.

Meanwhile, following the directives of the Kieu Phu Commune People's Committee, and alongside the intensified efforts to raise awareness about preventing drowning among students, the Commune's Culture and Social Affairs Department has mobilized social resources to build a swimming pool. In particular, from June 1st to August 15th, the commune plans to organize free swimming lessons for approximately 1,000 students in the area.

Meanwhile, in Duong Hoa commune, to enhance the skills of young people, on May 9th, Yen So Secondary School coordinated a water safety awareness campaign for 800 students. During the campaign, students were instructed on how to identify dangerous areas, safety principles when participating in water activities, basic first aid skills, and how to respond when encountering someone who is drowning…

Nguyen Phan Tai, the principal of Yen So Junior High School, shared: "Many drowning incidents have tragic consequences due to people's lack of basic first aid knowledge, so equipping students with skills to handle and prevent drowning situations is essential."

The proactive and coordinated implementation of solutions by suburban communes in Hanoi is expected to reduce drowning accidents this summer, contributing to the safety of children.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/cac-dia-phuong-ngoai-thanh-ha-noi-trien-khai-giai-phap-phong-chong-duoi-nuoc-cho-tre-em-815705.html