Training to improve professional skills in drowning prevention for children

Accordingly, this program is implemented in accordance with Decision No. 1248/QD-TTg dated June 19, 2021 of the Prime Minister approving the Program on prevention and control of child accidents and injuries for the period 2021 - 2030 and Decision No. 944/QD-BLDTBXH dated July 17, 2024 of the Minister of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs on organizing activities to prevent and control child drowning on the occasion of World Drowning Prevention Day.

In his opening speech, Mr. Dang Hoa Nam - Director of the Department of Children said that in recent times, the number of drowning incidents among children has tended to decrease but this situation has not been completely improved. Therefore, to enhance the effectiveness of drowning prevention and control among children, there needs to be close coordination between relevant parties. In particular, press and media units play a role in guiding and explaining the nature of the problem and how people can actively participate in drowning prevention and control.

In addition, the Director of the Department of Children said that the communication process is based on the level of change of the target from interest, learning, exchanging information, changing awareness, viewpoints... to changing behavior, maintaining action, having skills. Thereby, spreading knowledge, behavior, action.

"The press plays a very important role in raising awareness and changing people's behavior. However, media agencies need to effectively use the media to not only report news but also create changes in people's awareness and actions," Mr. Dang Hoa Nam emphasized.

From general and specific goals, Mr. Nam also shared communication solutions and plans: analyzing the context; determining goals and audiences; determining responsibilities; building messages and content; choosing methods, channels and product design; determining resources and implementation responsibilities; roadmap, progress and monitoring and evaluation.

Also at the training session, Dr. Duong Khanh Van, technical officer of the World Health Organization in Vietnam (WHO), said that drowning was the cause of over 2.5 million preventable deaths in the past decade. While this accident is completely preventable through the implementation of evidence-based, cost-effective approaches.

Dr. Duong Khanh Van shared many practical contents related to the current situation of drowning in children.

In Vietnam, drowning is one of the top 10 causes of death for children aged 1 to 14. The number of children under 16 who died from drowning reached nearly 2,000 cases. Risk factors for drowning in children include children playing near water without adult supervision and lacking swimming skills and safety in the water environment; using unsafe means of water transport or being too crowded without protective equipment such as buoys and life jackets; natural disasters.

WHO has therefore recommended four strategies and six interventions to prevent drowning. The strategies focus on ensuring that strong national mechanisms are in place to provide a coordinated and effective approach to addressing drowning, while the interventions promote community action.

To effectively implement drowning prevention and control work, close coordination and active participation of sectors are needed, in order to maximize the resources and capacity of sectors in this work.

In addition, according to MSc. Doan Thi Thu Huyen - Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, up to 2,250 staff have been trained to improve their capacity in preventing child drowning, 908 instructors have been trained in safe swimming and 1,096 instructors have been trained in safety skills. Thanks to that, 44,398 children aged 6-15 have learned safe swimming, 52,250 children aged 6-15 have learned safety skills, 30,204 parents, caregivers, and preschool teachers have been instructed in preventing child drowning.

MSc. Doan Thi Thu Huyen - Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (far right) has provided many important figures.

Notably, during the training session, trainees also participated in discussions, asked questions to experts and did group exercises, helping to strengthen connections and add excitement to the lively atmosphere of the training session. Thanks to that, nearly 40 reporters from newspapers and magazines had a new perspective on drowning prevention activities and found appropriate solutions for Vietnamese children.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/gan-40-phong-vien-nha-bao-tham-gia-tap-huan-nang-cao-nghiep-vu-ve-phong-chong-duoi-nuoc-cho-tre-em-post316198.html