Equipping children with water safety skills

The Nho Quan District Red Cross Society, in coordination with the District Youth Union and the Provincial Youth and Children's Center, has just organized a program to propagate drowning prevention for students at Duc Long Secondary School, Duc Long Commune (Nho Quan District).

At the propaganda session, the students were given basic knowledge about swimming and the dangers of drowning accidents by the staff of the Provincial Youth Center. At the same time, they were warned about the causes and risks of drowning when swimming in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and were instructed on measures to prevent drowning accidents, how to use life jackets, etc.

With practical and meaningful content, the propaganda session has contributed to raising awareness as well as equipping students with necessary skills to apply when encountering real-life situations, especially in the summer and when the rainy and stormy season is coming.

Quach Gia Phuc, a 7A student at Duc Long Secondary School, boldly participated in the hypothetical situations. Phuc shared that with the knowledge provided by the teachers on how to handle drowning people, he would have more correct understanding to have the opportunity to save people in time and safely. On the other hand, he used to think that once he knew how to swim, he could easily save drowning people, but in reality, that was not the case. If he did not handle the situation properly, he would also be in danger, even leading to death due to the victim being dragged down. He will spread the knowledge he learned today to his friends.

According to the local government representative, in Duc Long, many children are exposed to water from a very young age. However, most of them still lack the knowledge and skills to deal with unexpected situations in the water such as: handling cramps when swimming; how to escape from whirlpools; how to safely rescue drowning people; how to properly wear life jackets... Therefore, the District Red Cross in coordination with the District Youth Union and the Provincial Youth Center came to the scene to guide, answer questions, and at the same time give specific hypothetical situations to guide the children on how to handle them safely, and the school, local government and parents all supported. The students participated enthusiastically, as a useful extracurricular lesson.

Nho Quan district has a dense river system, and summer is also the rainy season, so there are many potential risks of drowning in children. In order to ensure the safety of children, this summer, Nho Quan district has directed all levels, sectors, mass organizations, communes and towns, with the Youth Union as the core, to coordinate with schools and district police to promote propaganda on drowning prevention for children in residential areas. The content of the propaganda sessions will focus on instructing children not to play near ponds, lakes, rivers and streams with danger signs; learning about drowning prevention skills to ensure their own safety as well as assisting drowning cases.

Equipping children with water safety skills — Students of Duc Long Secondary School (Nho Quan) enthusiastically answered questions about drowning prevention skills.

Mr. Bui The Manh, Deputy Secretary of Nho Quan District Youth Union, Chairman of the Youth Union Council said: Summer vacation is also the time when the rainy and flood season is approaching. Therefore, equipping children with knowledge and skills to prevent drowning is an extremely necessary solution for children in the district in general and children in flood areas in particular. From the beginning of the year, the District Youth Union has developed programs and plans to implement measures to prevent drowning for students and people in the area. In addition, directing the Youth Unions of communes and towns to coordinate with schools to train, propagate and guide children on skills to prevent accidents and injuries.

In addition, the District Youth Union also directed the communes and towns to have practical youth projects and tasks such as placing warning signs in dangerous places. In particular, through coordinated propaganda activities and skills instruction for children organized like today, it is hoped that children in flood-affected areas will learn to swim and learn safety skills in the water environment. However, in order for the work of preventing and fighting drowning for children to be most effective, localities and each family also need to actively participate with specific and practical activities. Only then will children have a joyful, rewarding and safe summer.

Mr. Dam Van Hai, Director of the Provincial Youth and Children Center, said: Every year, the Center coordinates with units and localities to organize many propaganda activities and provide guidance on skills to ensure safety in the water environment for children, with special priority given to children in flood-hit areas and children in coastal areas. In addition, the Center will continue to open free swimming classes for children in difficult circumstances. In addition, children are also equipped with skills to prevent drowning accidents, water safety skills; safe drowning rescue methods; first aid for victims, etc.

Along with the efforts of each locality, every year, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has also implemented many activities such as: Organizing training for staff working in child protection and care at all levels on accident and injury prevention and drowning prevention for children, first aid methods for drowning; launching propaganda leaflets, brochures, posters to the community, to schools, promoting communication at the commune level, supporting the construction of warning signs, prohibition signs at ponds and lakes where drowning often occurs and where there is a high risk of drowning for children...

However, in addition to the efforts of all levels, sectors and units, each family should truly be a "safe home" for children. Through drowning accidents, it can be seen that there are many causes leading to tragic accidents, including carelessness and irresponsibility of adults. Parents need to manage and remind their children to be careful when swimming in rivers and seas; need to pay more attention and supervise more frequently the location, time and types of children's entertainment and recreational activities, especially during the summer holidays;educate children against the risks of summer injuries, including drowning. For families in rural areas, it is necessary to pay attention to filling holes after use, covering water containers in the family...

Article and photos: Dao Hang

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