Don't let summer become a time of drowning worries.

During the summer, the risk of drowning accidents among children increases, especially in areas with many rivers, canals, streams, ponds, and lakes. Raising awareness, equipping children with water safety skills, and promoting swimming lessons are ways to reduce the number of such unfortunate incidents.

Children swimming in a pool in Rach Gia ward. Photo: PHAM HIEU

Summer is a time for children to play, explore , and develop life skills; however, it is also a time when the risk of accidents for children is high. Recently, a heartbreaking incident occurred in Binh An commune where two teenagers, HHT (13 years old) and LMK (20 years old), went fishing with a group of friends and then went swimming in a pond. Because they didn't know how to swim, both drowned. This incident continues to raise the alarm about the risk of drowning during the summer, especially for young children. Referring to the incident, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Hoa, a resident of Binh An commune, said: “I heard that there were four teenagers in the group. I don't know if they knew how to swim, but this incident reminds everyone to be careful when swimming in ponds, especially unfamiliar ones. Furthermore, families need to pay close attention to their children during the summer. If they let their children swim in rivers or ponds, they should supervise them carefully to avoid such unfortunate incidents.”

According to Ms. Vo Thi Thuy An, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Thuan commune, the commune is located in a remote and predominantly agricultural area, so it is densely populated with rivers, canals, ponds, and shrimp farms. These places have become favorite spots for rural children to play, fish, splash in the water, and swim. Therefore, every summer, the local authorities always pay attention to ensuring the safety of children, especially preventing drowning. "At the beginning of summer, the commune intensifies its efforts to raise awareness about drowning prevention, especially among families with young children and parents who work far away and leave their children with grandparents; we direct the hamlets to choose suitable locations to organize free swimming lessons, ensuring the safety of children during the summer," Ms. An said.

In Vinh Binh commune, to prevent drowning incidents among children during the summer, the local authorities are promoting awareness of drowning prevention skills; organizing swimming lessons and basic first aid and rescue training to equip children with the necessary knowledge and skills to respond to dangerous situations. According to Tran Thu Suong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Binh commune, most drowning incidents among children are due to the negligence of adults, such as insufficient supervision of children, lack of care, or children lacking safety skills in water environments. Many children even go swimming or playing in rivers, ponds, and lakes without knowing how to swim. "Therefore, the role of the family remains the decisive factor in children's safety. Parents should not entrust childcare to older siblings if the younger children are not capable of handling dangerous situations," Ms. Tran Thu Suong advised.

In recent times, localities in the province have implemented many comprehensive solutions such as organizing free swimming lessons; instructing people on how to identify dangerous water areas, basic rescue skills, and how to respond to water-related incidents; installing warning signs in areas where accidents frequently occur; and encouraging people to fence off deep ponds and water holes near residential areas to minimize risks for young children. According to Nguyen Quoc Phi, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Training, Coaching and Competition in Physical Education and Sports , many drowning cases occur in familiar areas such as ponds behind houses, ditches in gardens, or construction sites. Therefore, creating a safe living environment for children needs to start with the smallest actions, such as covering water storage tanks, fencing off ponds and lakes, and regularly reminding children about the dangers.

PHAM HIEU

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/khong-de-he-thanh-noi-lo-duoi-nuoc-a487510.html