A safe summer for children.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Summer is a time for children to play and freely explore what they like. However, without self-protection skills or adult supervision, children are more susceptible to accidents and injuries.

Summer activities at the children's reading room, Thanh Hoa Provincial Library.

On the afternoon of May 24, 2025, HQD (born in 2019) and VHTA (born in 2018) were playing when they took half a bottle of gasoline to burn an ant nest, causing a fire to erupt. Hearing their screams, Ms. Ha Thi Khuyen (mother of child D.), who was harvesting rice nearby, rushed back and found the children covered in burns. Immediately, Ms. Khuyen used wet clothes to cover the children to extinguish the flames, then took them to Nhu Thanh District General Hospital, and later transferred them to Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed child D. with third-degree burns covering 15% of her body, mainly on her face and right forearm. Child A. suffered third-degree burns covering up to 60% of her body, including her entire back, abdomen, hands, groin, genitals, buttocks, and thighs. Due to the severity of her condition, child A. was transferred to the Emergency and Intensive Care and Toxicology Department of Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital.

For example, on June 4, 2025, a child named NTKT (born in 2020) was admitted to Thanh Hoa Pediatric Hospital in a deep coma, with respiratory failure, pulmonary edema, and circulatory failure. T.'s prognosis was very serious, threatening death. According to the family, before the accident, T. was playing in the garden and fell into the family's dirty pond. She was found unconscious and received first aid on the spot, then taken to the District General Hospital in a coma. There, doctors intubated her, administered fluids and diuretics, and transferred her to Thanh Hoa Pediatric Hospital for further treatment.

Dr. Ngo Viet Hung, Head of the Emergency, Intensive Care and Toxicology Department at Thanh Hoa Pediatric Hospital, stated: Drowning accidents among children tend to increase during hot weather, summer holidays, and other holidays. Thanh Hoa Pediatric Hospital annually treats many drowning patients with various conditions, but not all are fortunate enough to survive. Treatment outcomes depend on many factors, with early detection and on-site first aid being extremely important. Although modern medicine has implemented many intensive care methods with advanced equipment, emergency treatment for drowning remains challenging, with high mortality rates or irreversible brain damage, posing a significant burden on families and society, especially in patients who have experienced respiratory and cardiac arrest.

According to statistics, from the beginning of the year to the end of May 2025, there were 9 accidents and injuries to children in the province, resulting in 14 deaths, including 8 drowning incidents causing the deaths of 13 children; and 1 traffic accident causing the death of 1 child (accounting for 89% of the total number of incidents and 92% of the child deaths due to drowning).

In light of the above situation, to decisively implement measures to prevent accidents and injuries, especially drowning accidents, and ensure the safety of children in Thanh Hoa province, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests that provincial departments, agencies, and organizations, as well as the People's Committees of communes and wards, focus on seriously and effectively strengthening leadership and guidance, promoting the role and responsibility of heads of agencies and units in directing and implementing accident and injury prevention work, especially drowning accidents among children; regularly inspect and supervise implementation in their respective areas, fields, and units; and conduct periodic or unscheduled inspections at high-risk areas and locations where drowning accidents are likely to occur in order to promptly direct corrective actions.

In addition, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the strengthening of information, communication, and legal education on preventing accidents and injuries to children through diverse forms and practical, easily accessible content, aiming to raise awareness and responsibility among Party committees, government agencies, sectors, organizations, families, and the entire society, especially emphasizing the prevention of drowning accidents to ensure absolute safety for children during the summer and rainy seasons.

To collectively build a safe and healthy living environment for children, it is also necessary to strengthen inspection and monitoring of compliance with legal regulations on preventing accidents and injuries to children. In particular, focus on inspecting and strictly handling violations related to safety standards and criteria for children in construction projects, public works, transportation, playgrounds, and equipment intended for children... We must resolutely eliminate any potential hazards that endanger children's safety.

Furthermore, it is recommended to organize widespread summer activities in residential areas, in coordination with youth unions and children's councils at all levels – where summer playgrounds become spaces for children to "learn through play and play through learning." The education sector also needs to strengthen coordination with relevant departments and units to systematically integrate life skills education, accident and injury prevention, and drowning prevention into summer activities. At the same time, it is encouraged to expand public spaces for children such as libraries, cultural centers, museums, and sports facilities, with preferential policies and ticket discounts.

Text and photos: Linh Huong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/mua-he-an-toan-nbsp-cho-tre-254040.htm