Life skills: Protecting children from drowning and the risk of "online kidnapping"

(NLDO) - Exercising and practicing life skills are some ways to help children prevent drowning and the risk of "online kidnapping".

Children today are often proficient in technology from an early age, but lack the life skills to protect themselves from dangerous situations. The incident of two children drowning in a well in Dong Nhan village, Hanoi in late July 2025 is an example of this gap.

Equipping children with basic life skills is essential to help them cope with risks in everyday life. Let's raise awareness and prepare children for a safer future.

According to the Department of Children, each year Vietnam records nearly 2,500 drowning cases, claiming the lives of about 2,000 children - 10 times higher than the average of many developing countries. This situation shows that popularizing swimming skills and water safety skills for people, especially children, is an urgent issue.

However, teaching escape skills, first aid, swimming, etc. is often placed last in schools and is not even included in the educational plans of many schools and families.

Therefore, equipping knowledge of situation handling and life skills into the curriculum and family life is not only a requirement of modern education, but also a responsibility of society. Only when all parties participate, life skills education will be effective and limit unfortunate consequences. Children need to be trained in coping skills early: escape skills, basic swimming skills, first aid, calling for help...

Drowning prevention training not only for students but also for parents at Yet Kieu Water Sports Center - Ho Chi Minh City. PHOTO: QUYNH TRAM

Not only children, many adults are also not properly trained in first aid, accident handling or emergency situations. In fact, many tragic accidents have proven that the lack of skills in handling situations in adults can make the consequences more serious. The alertness and timely actions of adults are sometimes the deciding factor between life and death.

According to experts, the incident was partly due to the river's lack of barriers and warning signs, and partly due to children's lack of vigilance, situation handling skills and risk assessment.

Director of Yet Kieu Aquatic Sports Center, Mr. Chung Tan Phong, said: "The safe swimming program to prevent drowning of children is one of the key activities, receiving the attention and direction of the City Party Committee, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and agencies, departments, branches and organizations in the city for many years".

Mr. Chung Tan Phong discussed the causes of drowning in children in the summer.

More worryingly, “online kidnapping” is emerging as a new threat, making many families feel insecure. Bad guys take advantage of social networks, video chats or online games to approach and build trust with children. Without the skills to identify and prevent it, children can fall into unpredictable dangerous situations.

Sports classes at NTN HCMC always attract a large number of children to practice. PHOTO: DUY THANH

The Ho Chi Minh City Children's House is not only a place for entertainment but also a "life skills school" for thousands of children each year. Here, specialized classes help children practice essential skills such as self-care, communication and behavior, teamwork, conflict resolution and critical thinking.

A diverse system of clubs – from talent, sports, arts to science – creates an environment for children to explore their strengths, while practicing independence and teamwork. Extracurricular activities such as field trips, picnics, volunteering or competitions also broaden their life experiences, help children gain real-life experiences and accumulate “soft skills” for the future.

Master Thai Thi Kim Yen - Aikido coach at the Ho Chi Minh City Children's House, said: "Adults need to proactively observe their children closely and find suitable classes for them to participate in. Children should play a lot of sports or take singing and dancing classes to participate in group activities, communicate with friends, and have healthy living time."

Coach Thai Thi Kim Yen discusses helping children stay away from dangerous social networks through extracurricular classes.

Children learn best through observation, so adults need to be role models and know how to handle situations skillfully. In dangerous situations such as fires, drowning or accidents, the alertness and skills of adults directly determine the safety of children.

Survival skills help adults understand children's psychology, promptly detect risks, and update knowledge to respond to new threats such as cyber violence or "online kidnapping". When adults proactively practice, they not only protect themselves but also create a safe, positive living environment, helping children develop comprehensively both physically and mentally.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ky-nang-song-bao-ve-tre-khoi-duoi-nuoc-va-nguy-co-bat-coc-online-196250812091916281.htm