Preventing drowning accidents in Quynh Phu

Children in An Khe commune (Quynh Phu) learn to swim to prevent drowning accidents.

With a dense river system and many ponds and lakes spread throughout residential areas, for many years, Quynh Phu district has always attached importance to the work of preventing and combating drowning accidents for children. The district's guiding viewpoint is to take good care of children; enhance the responsibility of all levels and sectors to minimize injuries and drowning accidents for children. Every year, in preparation for the summer and the month of action for children, the district People's Committee issues a specific plan, in which it assigns tasks to departments, offices, agencies, units and localities to care for children; emphasizes the organization of swimming classes, equipping children with safety skills in the water environment. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thuy, Secretary of the Quynh Phu District Youth Union, said: We have directed the youth unions of communes, towns, primary and secondary schools in the area to organize propaganda on drowning prevention and combat, and at the same time organize swimming classes for children. Although it is just the beginning of summer, many localities have successfully implemented classes on skills to prevent and combat drowning for children. In the coming days, the District Youth Union will organize the giving of life jackets at some opening points of summer activities. We hope that these are practical actions to contribute to preventing drowning accidents among children in the area.

Coming to Quynh Phu these days, it is not difficult to see children playing and learning to swim at swimming and diving service establishments. At Hoang Dung swimming pool (An Khe commune), it was just after 2 pm but we saw dozens of children coming here to play and learn to swim. Mr. Ngo Viet Hoang, the owner of the facility, said: My family's swimming pool system has been operating since 2022 with 4 swimming pools for different ages. This is not only a place for children in An Khe commune to play and learn to swim, but also children in neighboring communes such as An Dong, An Hiep, and An Thai to come here to participate. Every year, we coordinate with highly qualified coaches to organize swimming classes for children. This summer, we plan to organize about 8 swimming classes for children.

Mr. Do Duong Thang, a cultural officer of An Khe commune, shared: An Khe is a coastal commune with large rivers such as Hoa River and Luoc River flowing through; in addition, there are many ponds and lakes located in residential areas. Therefore, every year, the commune develops a plan to organize swimming classes for children in the area. At the same time, it organizes traditional swimming competitions to spread the swimming movement among children here. Thanks to being well equipped with skills to handle situations in the water environment, for many years now, there have been no tragic drowning accidents in the commune.

At Quynh Tho swimming pool (Quynh Tho commune) at this time, there are also many children coming here to play and learn to swim. With 2 pools of about 400m2 ^, this swimming pool attracts over 100 children from inside and outside the commune every day. The owner of the swimming pool is Mr. Ngo Dinh Hoan, who is a physical education teacher. Based on the thought of how to equip children with good swimming skills to prevent drowning accidents, Mr. Hoan built this swimming pool. In the mornings, he and his friends organize swimming lessons for children in the commune as well as neighboring communes. In the afternoon, the space is reserved for children to come and play. Mr. Hoan shared: Every year, I organize swimming lessons for about 100 children in the area. From this swimming pool, many children, after completing swimming courses, have participated in swimming competitions organized by the district and province and won high prizes. Achieving high results is very proud, but what I want to aim for is to help children practice health, be equipped with the best skills to handle situations when unfortunately encountering danger in the water environment.

Quynh Phu district has two large rivers, Hoa River and Luoc River, flowing through it, along with a dense system of small rivers, ponds and lakes. This is a favorable condition but also a place with potential risks of insecurity, especially for children. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children, especially in the summer. Raising awareness and implementing preventive measures are necessary to protect the safety of young children. In recent years, the work of preventing and combating drowning accidents has been of interest to Quynh Phu district, implemented regularly and effectively. This will continue to be a key task this summer to help children in the district have good skills to play safely, healthily and have lots of fun.