Summer and safe swimming skills

QTO - Every summer, drowning accidents among children become a constant worry, especially in areas with many rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. In reality, equipping children with swimming skills and water safety knowledge is no longer an option but an urgent requirement. As swimming is recognized as an essential life skill, the systematic teaching of swimming from schools to the community is gradually forming a "shield" to protect children at the grassroots level.

Integrating swimming skills into the school curriculum.

Recently, schools in the province have intensified their efforts to raise awareness, organize swimming lessons, and equip students with skills to prevent and respond to drowning, helping them proactively protect themselves, especially before the summer break.

At Bac Nghia Primary School (Dong Son Ward), the school recently organized an extracurricular activity on "Water Safety Skills Education ". Students were guided through basic swimming techniques and situational handling skills such as floating, staying calm, identifying hazards, and safety principles when participating in water activities.

Tran Nhat Hoai, a student at the school, said that after participating in the class, she not only learned to swim but also understood the dangers of going into the water. “I was taught how to float, stay calm in dangerous situations, and not to swim in ponds, lakes, rivers, or streams without adult supervision. Now I feel more confident but also more careful when playing near water sources,” Hoai shared.

Students are guided in practicing water safety skills and using rescue equipment - Photo: MH

The school also focuses on integrating water safety education tailored to local conditions. According to Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, Principal of Bac Nghia Primary School, this content helps students develop self-protection awareness in their daily lives. They learn to identify dangerous areas, remain calm in emergencies, and remind their friends not to go into the water without an adult present. Through this implementation, students' awareness has shown a significant improvement.

The "Swim for Life" project is partnering with schools in programs to teach swimming skills to students. To date, the project has been implemented in 207 schools throughout the province. According to the project's evaluation results, 76% of students know how to swim, 96% of students have mastered self-rescue skills, and 91% of students understand the principles of safe rescue.

Ms. Dang Thi Hai Yen, Project Manager of the “Swim for Life” program in Quang Tri , stated that the core of the program is not just teaching swimming, but building a comprehensive drowning prevention system. “We are implementing three components simultaneously: teaching safe swimming, educating on underwater skills, and raising community awareness. When these three elements are implemented in conjunction, the prevention effect will be more sustainable,” Ms. Yen emphasized.

Change starts with awareness and spreads throughout the community.

If schools are the foundation, then the community is where those skills are maintained and disseminated in real life. In Tuyen Hoa commune, Mr. Nguyen Anh Duc has been maintaining free swimming lessons for children aged 8-15 in the Rao Nan River area, at the Tien Mai village swimming spot. In the absence of a swimming pool, organizing classes in the middle of the river requires the instructor to both teach proper techniques and ensure the safety of each child.

Each class typically has dozens of students, divided into groups according to skill level for easier instruction. They not only learn how to swim but also develop floating skills, situational awareness, and safety principles in the water. Over time, most students have mastered the basic skills, and many can swim proficiently.

"The area has many rivers and streams, and many children don't know how to swim, so the risk of drowning is very high. Teaching swimming in the river is more difficult, but it helps the children get used to the real environment. The important thing is to help them understand the risks and develop safe habits when in the water," shared Mr. Nguyen Anh Duc.

Alongside the swimming classes, local youth union members have also intensified propaganda efforts, conducted inspections, and placed warning signs in dangerous areas such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. Hoang Van Dat, Secretary of the Dong Son Ward Youth Union, said: “When solutions are implemented comprehensively, from teaching skills to warning about risks, the awareness of parents and the community has changed positively. Many families are more proactive in enrolling their children in swimming lessons and increasing supervision during the summer. To ensure a truly safe summer, equipping children with swimming skills before the summer break needs to be prioritized and widely implemented.”

In reality, a safe summer for children cannot rely solely on warnings. When swimming skills are widely disseminated, implemented consistently in schools, and strongly promoted throughout the community, it will provide a sustainable foundation for protecting children from the risk of drowning.

MH

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202605/mua-he-va-ky-nang-boi-an-toan-b9630d0/