Worries when summer arrives
The sound of cicadas chirping in the flame trees signals the beginning of summer vacation for students. After months of studying, they eagerly anticipate joyful days with family and friends. But it is also at this time that many worries emerge.
Since the beginning of the year, the province has recorded 13 cases of child drowning. Some children were drowning while swimming in rivers with friends, some were fishing with relatives, and others were playing near ponds, lakes, and canals when they unfortunately fell into the water. Behind these numbers are irreplaceable voids in each family.
At the launching ceremony of the "Month of Action for Children" in 2026, Comrade Dao Manh Hung, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province, emphasized: "The rate of child deaths due to accidents and injuries, especially drowning deaths, remains high; child violence and abuse still occur, causing concern among the people and public opinion. This is truly a wake-up call for all levels, sectors, each family, and the entire society in the work of protecting and caring for children."
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| Students from Phong Hoa Secondary School participate in swimming lessons to equip themselves with skills to prevent and respond to drowning during the summer - Photo: QN |
This concern doesn't just stem from rivers, streams, or ponds. In many localities, the lack of recreational spaces for children remains a pressing issue. Mr. Mai Xuan Minh, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Tuyen Binh commune, said: "The commune has 20 villages and a large area, but currently there is no centralized playground for children. Besides the stadium in front of the commune's People's Committee office, there are almost no other community activity spaces specifically for children during the summer."
While in the past, when people thought about a safe summer, they often considered preventing drowning or traffic accidents, nowadays children also face new dangers in the online environment. The development of digital technology has brought many opportunities for learning, connecting, and accessing knowledge.
However, along with that come risks such as online fraud, cyberbullying, misinformation, and content inappropriate for their age. Tran Le Phuong Lam, a student at Phong Hoa Primary and Secondary School, shared: “Social media helps us learn new knowledge and connect with friends. However, if used improperly, we can easily access unverified information and harmful content.”
The risks from both real-world situations and cyberspace are also the reason why the "Month of Action for Children" in 2026 is being implemented with the theme "Happy, Safe, and Confident Children in the Digital Age". This theme aims to raise awareness and responsibility among families, schools, and society in protecting children, while equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible digital citizens.
Let summer be a time of joy.
Driven by these concerns, many solutions are being implemented by various levels of government and localities since the beginning of summer. In Tuyen Binh commune, numerous plans have been issued to prevent drowning and injuries, and to strengthen student management during the summer. A new initiative this year is the handover of students from schools back to the local community, carried out by village and group by group, to facilitate management and monitoring. In addition, the locality is implementing swimming lessons for children; mobilizing the Youth Union to participate in organizing summer activities and coordinating student management after the school year ends.
According to provincial guidelines, the handover, reception, and management of children participating in summer activities in the locality is identified as one of the key tasks to minimize safety risks for children during the summer break. From the school's perspective, equipping students with necessary skills is also emphasized.
Ms. Truong Thi Thuong, Principal of Phong Hoa Secondary School, said: “The school regularly promotes accident and drowning prevention through flag-raising ceremonies, experiential activities, and class meetings. Thanks to participating in the swimming program, more than two-thirds of the school's students now know how to swim. In addition, the school also strengthens guidance for students on safe internet use, civilized behavior online, and how to choose age-appropriate information.”
Mr. Ho Tan Canh, Deputy Director of the Quang Tri Department of Health, affirmed: “Protecting children requires the synchronized involvement of the entire political system, families, and communities. Therefore, in the coming time, the health sector will continue to coordinate with localities to implement solutions to prevent and combat injuries, drowning, protect children in the online environment, and support children with special circumstances so that all children can live in a safe and healthy environment.”
Summer is always the most beautiful time in childhood memories. For summer days to truly be joyful, every child needs to grow up with the care of their family, the support of their school, and the responsibility of the community. Because behind every statistic lies a life, a dream, and a future waiting to take flight. Only when living in a safe environment can children have the conditions to develop fully and enjoy their childhood to the fullest.
Quang Ngoc
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202606/vi-mua-he-an-toan-cho-tre-em-bca2ecc/
