Drowning Prevention, a Story That Never Gets Old: From Pain to Action

PAIN FROM NUMBERS

According to the report of Gia Lai Provincial Youth Union, in the first 6 months of 2025, there were 16 drowning accidents in the province, causing 16 children to die in the districts of Chu Pah, Duc Co, Krong Pa and Ia Grai. In Chu Pah district alone, from 2021 to now, there have been 24 cases of children dying from drowning, including 3 cases in Ia Ka commune.

Faced with the above situation, in March 2025, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee issued a plan to implement the Program to enhanceeducation on knowledge and skills to prevent drowning for students in the period of 2025 - 2035 in the province. The general objective of the plan is to enhance education on knowledge and skills to prevent drowning for students to improve their ability to prevent and protect themselves from the risk of drowning; ensure conditions and effectively organize safe swimming lessons for students to increase the rate of knowing how to swim and knowing skills to prevent drowning, contributing to reducing the rate of drowning among students.

Drowning prevention, a never-ending story: From pain to action - Photo 1.

Ms. Nguyen Pham Duy Trang, Secretary of the Central Youth Union, Chairman of the Central Council of the Young Pioneers, donated 100 sets of swimming equipment including life jackets and arm floats to students of Ia Ka Primary School, Chu Pah District (Gia Lai).

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

In addition, investment in the construction and installation of swimming pools in schools and communities will be increased. By 2030, at least 20% of primary schools, 15% of secondary schools and high schools will have swimming pools (fixed or mobile) and maintain effective operations; 50% of communes, wards and towns will have at least one swimming pool serving the safe swimming teaching of children and students in the area. By 2035, at least 30% of primary schools, 25% of secondary schools and high schools will have swimming pools (fixed or mobile) and maintain effective operations; 70% of communes, wards and towns will have at least one swimming pool serving the safe swimming teaching of children and students in the area...

SPECIAL CLASSES on drowning prevention

In order to strengthen the work of preventing drowning for children, and at the same time respond to the launching ceremony of the 2025 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign and the 2025 Action Month for Children in Gia Lai, athlete Nguyen Huy Hoang (who won 11 swimming gold medals at the SEA Games) directly taught free swimming to students of Ia Ka Primary School (Chu Pah District). This is an activity within the framework of the 2025 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign organized by the Central Youth Union on May 31.

During the lesson, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang instructed the children in basic swimming techniques and how to handle situations when encountering an accident in the water. Despite the rainy and chilly weather in the morning, the swimming lesson was still lively, with the students showing great enthusiasm and concentration.

Drowning prevention, a never-ending story: From pain to action - Photo 2.

Youth Union members and youth put up signs warning about drowning prevention in Ia Khuol commune, Chu Pah district.

PHOTO: PHUONG THAO

"I am very happy to contribute to the series of activities of the 2025 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign launched by the Central Youth Union in Gia Lai. Teaching swimming directly to ethnic minority students is a very meaningful thing for me. Through the class, I hope that the students will grasp the basic skills to protect themselves in case of drowning. Although the weather this morning was rainy and cold, the students were very excited and practiced seriously," Huy Hoang shared.

The free swimming lesson organized by the Central Youth Union at Ia Ka Primary School (Chu Pah District) is not only a symbolic activity of the 2025 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign, but also a timely and practical gift for children in disadvantaged areas, where tragic drowning accidents occur every year.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Ia Ka commune, acknowledged: "In the commune, almost every year, children die from drowning. The investment in a swimming pool by the Department of Education and Training of Gia Lai province and the Central Youth Union sending national swimmers to directly instruct is a very important step forward, bringing great practical value in educating life skills for children."

Drowning prevention, a never-ending story: From pain to action - Photo 3.

Athlete Nguyen Huy Hoang teaches swimming for free to students of Ia Ka Primary School (Chu Pah District)

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

"The close coordination between the school, the locality and the Youth Union has created a special class that not only teaches swimming but also survival skills, fosters peace of mind for parents and sows confidence in highland students," Ms. Ha emphasized.

ORGANIZE 5,000 FREE SWIMMING CLASSES

At the end of May 2025, the Central Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union issued a plan to organize summer activities for children in 2025, with the aim of promoting the pioneering and voluntary role of union members, youth, and cadres in charge of children in organizing summer activities for teenagers and children; promoting propaganda activities to prevent child abuse, injuries, and drowning; improving the effectiveness of propaganda activities of local Youth Union and Pioneer organizations, contributing to conveying messages and creative and effective ways of protecting, caring for, and educating teenagers and children...

The 2025 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign takes place from April to August with consistent content, contributing to socio-economic development, solving issues of social concern. The campaign is implemented synchronously, with focus, key points and many creative contents. The Central Youth Union has set 12 key targets in the campaign, including organizing 5,000 free swimming classes for children nationwide. This is to promote the sports movement, improve physical health, and prevent drowning for children.

EQUIPPING LIFE SKILLS FOR CHILDREN

On May 31, a working delegation of the Central Youth Union led by Ms. Nguyen Pham Duy Trang, Secretary of the Central Youth Union and Chairman of the Central Youth Union Council, visited youth volunteer teams carrying out activities to equip life skills for children in Gia Lai.

At Ia Ka Primary School (Chu Pah District), Ms. Nguyen Pham Duy Trang attended the opening ceremony of a free swimming class for children. On this occasion, the delegation presented 100 swimming kits including life jackets and arm floats to the children, contributing to equipping them with skills to prevent drowning in the summer.

According to Ms. Nguyen Hoai Phuong, Secretary of Chu Pah District Youth Union, in the face of the fact that every year there are tragic cases of children drowning in the district, the Standing Committee of the District Youth Union has directed the Youth Union bases to organize activities for union members and young people to mobilize and support people to build fences, place danger warning signs, and swimming buoys near ponds, lakes, and streams. Typically, in 2024, the entire district simultaneously deployed the model of "Turning recyclable waste into useful materials", collecting bottles, cans, and old tires to recycle into 90 drowning warning signs.

Drowning prevention, a never-ending story: From pain to action - Photo 4.