Nghe An: Warning about child drowning

A series of tragic incidents

During the first heat waves of the season this year, many tragic drowning incidents occurred in the province. In 2 days (May 18 and 19), there were 2 drowning incidents in the river, causing the death of a 4th grade student in Linh Son commune (Anh Son), and a young man in Dai Son commune (Do Luong). On May 28 and 29, there were 3 drowning incidents, causing the death of a 12th grade student in Quynh Chau commune (Quynh Luu), a 5th grade student at Nam Thanh Primary School (Nam Dan), and a 9th grade student in Thanh Dong commune (Thanh Chuong). Notably, on May 23, 3 children drowned: two siblings (9-11 years old) in a family in Quynh Tam commune (Quynh Luu) after coming home from school, invited each other to go swimming in the pond and drowned, dying in the pond of their grandmother's house, 1 child in Cua Nam ward (Vinh city) was discovered floating in the lake by local people.

Recently, on June 5-6, there were 3 drowning incidents that caused the death of 1 student (11 years old) in Nhan Son commune (Do Luong), 2 second grade students in Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong), 1 10th grade student in Thai Hoa town...

Hot weather, people flock to lakes, dams, rivers and streams to bathe. Photo: Archive

The causes of drowning come from many sides. First of all, it is because children do not know how to swim, lack skills and knowledge about safety when bathing in rivers, streams, ponds and lakes. Second, it is because of the living environment with many lurking dangers, due to the carelessness of adults, due to lack of knowledge in first aid and rescue for drowning people... However, the responsibility of families and parents in educating, guiding and supervising their children to avoid tragic drowning accidents still plays an important role.

Most of the recent drowning accidents are more or less related to the lack of supervision of adults, the subjectivity of parents, allowing children to freely play in dangerous places, with many potential risks. Most children in rural areas invite each other to go swimming in the sea, rivers, lakes spontaneously, without parental supervision. The lack of caution while playing, or helping the family when going to the fields, rivers, streams to catch crabs, catch fish... as well as not being reminded, instructed, makes children subjective, leading to tragic incidents.

Rural students spontaneously go swimming in rivers and lakes without parental supervision. Photo: Huy Thu

According to an incomplete report by the Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports, from the beginning of the year to June 7, there were 18 drowning incidents in the province, resulting in the death of 18 children. Most of these drowning incidents occurred in May. However, this is only the number of victims under 16 years old. There are many other tragic drowning incidents in which the victims were high school students over 16 years old, which are not included in this report.

Strengthen coordination, enhance responsibility

During this hot season, Mu Ba Bridge on Dao River in Dong Son Commune (Do Luong) attracts many people from Luong to come and cool off. This is a place where many tragic drowning incidents have occurred, and warning signs have been put up by the local authorities and organizations, but every day and every afternoon, hundreds of people, young and old, still come here to swim, jump off the bridge... This incident has been going on for many years, raising concerns about whether there is a lack of coordination between families, schools and society.

Adults and children go swimming and cooling off at Mu Ba Bridge on Dao River in Dong Son Commune (Do Luong). Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Nguyen Tat Hung - Vice Chairman of the Youth Union of Do Luong district said: "In the past time, to reduce the situation of drowning, the Youth Union and Young Pioneer organizations in the whole district have really taken action. 52 Youth Union bases and 55 Young Pioneers have done a good job of propaganda, organizing extracurricular activities, at the same time, the Youth Union bases in rural areas have organized to put up warning signs about drowning in ponds, lakes, and dangerous deep water areas; and went to families to propagate. Some commune Youth Unions have mobilized tens of millions of VND to build artificial swimming pools, specifically in communes such as Bac Son, Nam Son... However, the important role is still the family factor, parents must not be negligent, but need to monitor and closely manage their children, only then can we hope to reduce drowning accidents".

In reality, children and students only go to school for a certain period of time. During this time, they are closely monitored and managed by the school, class, teachers and staff. Most of the remaining time, they return to their families, and their work, study and play activities are all monitored by their parents, grandparents and other adults.

However, each family has different conditions and circumstances. Parents' understanding, as well as their careful teaching, play an extremely important role in educating children's personalities, including drowning prevention. Currently, many families in both urban and rural areas, due to parents being busy making a living "all day" or lacking knowledge, do not pay attention to reminding their children when going to rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes, leading to many unfortunate incidents.

Children play dangerous games in the raging water despite warning signs. Photo: Huy Thu

Talking about the role of the family in preventing and fighting drowning, teacher Nguyen Dang Quy - Principal of Thanh Khe Secondary School (Thanh Chuong) affirmed: "In preventing and fighting drowning, the role of the school is very important, and the family is decisive. Because the school mainly propagates, trains, and equips children with knowledge and understanding, while the family will continue to remind, thoroughly understand, and educate more skills, especially whether parents spend time, effort, and money to let their children learn to swim and learn other skills or not."

Perhaps this is not only Mr. Quy's personal opinion but also the community's and society's perception of the problem of drowning. With the "decisive" role in preventing and combating drowning in children, should we pay more attention to the educational role of the family, and further promote propaganda for parents, so that they have a more correct and complete understanding of drowning prevention and combat, thereby influencing their children. Hopefully, the harmonious and effective coordination between family - school - society will contribute effectively to reducing drowning accidents today.

Youth Union members participate in teaching swimming and preventing drowning for children. Photo: Duc Anh

Mr. Bui Van Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said: Preventing and combating drowning for children in general, especially preventing drowning for children in the summer, is considered an urgent issue that requires the participation of the whole society. The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Plan 247 KH-UBND dated May 13 on the Month of Action for Children in 2020 with the theme "Joining hands to protect children, preventing child abuse", which includes full contents and solutions to prevent and combat injuries and drowning; organizing the signing of commitments between the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns and the standing agency of the provincial children's work steering committee on implementing "A safe summer for children" with contents and solutions to prevent injuries and drowning for children; directing and urging districts and localities to organize healthy and useful recreational activities... in the summer.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Huong - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports: "To minimize drowning incidents, the Department of Culture and Sports will continue to promote propaganda and mobilization to raise awareness of drowning prevention for each citizen and the community, at the same time, through the grassroots staff and physical education and sports teachers to instruct swimming skills, skills to handle situations when there is a risk of drowning and skills to rescue drowning people". In addition, coordinate with relevant departments and branches to inspect and monitor entertainment services related to the water environment".