Join hands to prevent drowning

BPO - In recent years, drowning of students in the province has occurred frequently, especially in the summer. In the summer, the weather is hot, so students often invite each other to swim in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, areas prone to drowning, and there have been many tragic drowning cases.

A series of drowning incidents

According to statistics, in the first 4 months of 2025, there were 6 drowning accidents in the province, killing 7 children. Compared to the same period in 2024, there were 3 fewer deaths (in the first 4 months of 2024, there were 6 drowning accidents in the province, killing 10 children).

Most recently, on the afternoon of April 20, the family of Mr. Le Thanh and Ms. Nguyen Thi Chung, residing in Hamlet 2, Long Ha Commune, Phu Rieng District, along with their two sons, LB (15 years old), LH (10 years old) and some relatives, went to the Be River area, the rocky section under Tra Thanh Bridge (Long Ha Commune) to play and bathe. While bathing in the river, the older brother saw his younger brother fall into a deep hole, so he went down to save him. After that, both brothers drowned in the river. The family members tried to search, and at the same time informed the local security forces and Long Ha Commune Police to assist in the search, but were unsuccessful.

The Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of Bu Dop district has put up warning signs in dangerous areas to prevent drowning at Can Don lake to limit drowning accidents.

Previously, on April 17, in Tan Phu town, Dong Phu district, there was a case of a child drowning leading to death. Specifically, after returning from school, TPL (born in 2020), residing in Group 7, Tan An quarter, Tan Phu town, and a group of friends went to a neighbor's house to play and unfortunately fell into a koi pond. At 6 p.m., Mr. Duong Duc Khai (homeowner) discovered L. floating on the surface of the family's koi pond. Mr. Khai called for help and first aid for L., then took him to the District Medical Center, however, L. had died before that.

Mr. Hoang Dai Hieu, Chairman of Tan Phu Town People's Committee said: "We are extremely saddened by the tragic incident that just happened in the town, a child drowned and died. This is a great loss for the child's family and also a wake-up call for the entire community to strengthen the protection and care of children, especially during the summer. The Town People's Committee has directed the functional forces to quickly arrive at the scene, support the victim's family and carry out the necessary procedures. At the same time, we will increase propaganda, inspect potential unsafe areas, mobilize people to be vigilant and not let children play alone in dangerous areas. We hope that every family and person will join hands with the local government to prevent drowning so that similar heartbreaking incidents do not happen again."

To reduce drowning accidents

Drowning accidents in children have become a concern for every family and authorities every summer. Summer is the time when students have the habit of inviting each other to go swimming in ponds, lakes, rivers, etc. Swimming freely in cool water in the hot weather is a joy for children, but it also poses a great risk of drowning if there is no supervision from parents, especially children in rural areas. Many incidents have occurred in recent times, leaving pain for families and society.

Authorities and local people searched all night for Le B. (15 years old) and Le H. (10 years old) who drowned.

Binh Phuoc has a dense system of ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, which pose many risks of drowning, especially during the rainy season. Safe playgrounds for children are not yet fully guaranteed; there is a lack of fences and warning signs in areas with high risk of drowning... Therefore, we will coordinate with relevant levels and sectors to overcome these limitations, encourage families to proactively take their children to learn swimming and water safety skills; organize swimming and water safety skills classes for children.

Deputy Director of Department of Health PHAM THI MAI HUONG

Ms. Pham Thi Mai Huong, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, said that the main causes of child drowning in recent years are families in difficult circumstances, children following their parents to work or staying at home with their grandparents, lacking adult supervision; swimming skills of children have not been popularized; propaganda work in some localities has not been really effective... From the practical cases, it shows that most of the reason is that children are not aware of the dangers of drowning, lack of knowledge and swimming skills. Most of the children are teenagers and are hyperactive, like to gather in groups to play in places with rivers, streams, ponds and lakes on hot days.

To minimize the risk of children drowning, local authorities, families and parents must always remind their children not to play in dangerous areas near rivers, streams and lakes. At the same time, it is necessary to raise awareness and responsibility of agencies, organizations and individuals in preventing and combating drowning for children in areas with high risk of drowning. Strengthen propaganda and mobilize families to regularly care for and supervise children, especially during summer vacation and stormy seasons.

In addition, agencies, departments, sectors and localities need to pay attention to investing in and organizing swimming classes, water safety, and drowning prevention for children, especially prioritizing support for poor children and children in difficult circumstances. At the same time, increase the use of libraries, clubs, cultural houses, entertainment venues, sports facilities for children during the summer... to contribute to limiting drowning accidents.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/9/172479/chung-tay-phong-chong-duoi-nuoc