Kien Xuong: Proactively prevent drowning for children

In order to reduce tragic drowning incidents involving children during the summer holidays, the authorities in Kien Xuong district are stepping up propaganda efforts and implementing various measures to ensure children's safety.

Every day, the swimming pool in Thanh Tan commune (Kien Xuong district) attracts hundreds of students who come to learn to swim and improve their health.

According to statistics from the District Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, from 2021 to the present, there have been 10 tragic drowning incidents in the district, all involving students from schools within the district. Following the direction of the District People's Committee, primary and secondary schools in the district have organized many extracurricular activities to equip children with swimming and first aid skills so that they can ensure their own safety and safely rescue those who are drowning. Parents are also regularly reminded to proactively supervise their children during the summer break.

Mr. Vu Duc Nam, Chairman of the Quang Trung Commune People's Committee, said: "Every summer, the commune intensifies its propaganda efforts through the public address system and in schools regarding measures to prevent drowning among children. The police force, youth union, and village heads regularly inspect riverbank areas and place warning signs in dangerous zones. However, a few years ago, two tragic drowning incidents still occurred in the area. This serves as a lesson for parents and schools in managing students and children during the summer."

Mr. Pham Ngoc Chau, Deputy Principal of Quang Trung Secondary School, shared: "The school regularly integrates knowledge and skills on preventing and responding to drowning into regular lessons so that students can gain more practical experience. In addition, teachers at the school regularly remind parents to plan for safe recreational activities for their children during the summer break and to invest in swimming lessons at local swimming pools."

Mr. Hoang Van Khanh, Deputy Director in charge of the District's Culture and Sports Center, said: The Center has coordinated with units and localities to organize swimming lessons and drowning prevention classes for children and teenagers in 2023. In coordination with the Department of Education and Training, a plan has been developed to organize swimming courses for students at educational institutions throughout the district. Accordingly, schools proactively review and compile statistics on the number of students who know how to swim and those who do not, and disseminate information to parents and students so that they voluntarily register for swimming lessons. Based on the registration list, schools develop plans and proactively contact the Center to organize swimming lessons for students. The District's Culture and Sports Center will develop a plan and schedule for swimming lessons for schools and prepare the most favorable conditions to organize effective swimming lessons. The Center also coordinates with relevant units to organize free swimming lessons for underprivileged students and students with difficult circumstances. During the training process, the Center actively organizes classes to teach children skills in handling situations and navigating waterways. Through these classes, many talented children have been identified and selected to join the commune and district swimming teams to participate in competitions.

As one of the first people to invest in swimming pools in Kien Xuong district, Mr. Vu Van Luong, from An Co Bac village, Thanh Tan commune, said: "I started operating the swimming pools in 2016 with 3 pools suitable for students of all ages. Since then, every year I have coordinated with teachers to train hundreds of students to swim. To ensure safety while swimming, in addition to regularly checking and treating the water environment, I also do a good job of rescue and supervision, especially for those who don't know how to swim. Currently, it is the peak season for swimming lessons; from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM every day, hundreds of students come to my swimming pool to learn to swim and improve their health."

Teacher Pham Tien Bao said: "For over 10 years, I have collaborated with other teachers to teach swimming to 300-400 students per year at swimming pools in the district. I teach three sessions a day, with 30-50 students in each session. Besides basic swimming techniques, we also equip the children with the skills to handle dangerous situations while swimming, ensuring they have all the necessary safety skills in the water."

Kien Xuong district has nearly 10 permanent swimming pools and many mobile swimming pools in schools. To effectively prevent drowning among children, Kien Xuong district continues to promote awareness campaigns so that parents regularly remind and closely monitor their children's daily activities, keeping them away from drowning risks, helping them have a joyful and safe summer vacation.