Urgent measures to prevent drowning.

HEARTBREAKING NUMBERS

Located in the tropical monsoon region, Vietnam boasts a coastline stretching over 3,200 km, more than 2,300 rivers, canals, and streams, and a large number of ponds and lakes. These create ideal natural conditions, but also pose significant risks of drowning accidents for children. In Vietnam, the percentage of the population who can swim is very low. The reality of many deaths due to drowning remains a serious concern, especially among children.

Learning to swim offers many health benefits.

Swimming in a portable pool is also a good solution in areas where there is no land to build a swimming pool.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest rates of child drowning deaths in the world, much higher than many countries in the region and 10 times higher than developed countries. Currently, an average of about 2,000 children die from drowning each year. The age group with the highest mortality rate is 1-14 years old, living in rural areas with difficult economic conditions, mountainous provinces, and localities with many rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes.

According to Nguyen Thi Chien, Deputy Head of the Department of Mass Sports under the General Department of Sports, there are many reasons leading to child drowning incidents. The main cause is children not knowing how to swim and lacking knowledge and skills in preventing and responding to drowning. In addition, inadequate supervision by adults and insufficient guidance from professional personnel (lifeguards) when children go swimming or play in the water are also reasons for these tragic events. Furthermore, objective factors such as natural disasters, storms, floods, children living near unsafe environments (ponds, lakes, wells, drains, etc.), and subjective factors such as not following regulations when participating in water transport, and not knowing safe rescue skills, also contribute to the increased drowning mortality rate.

Learning to swim properly will ensure safety.

WE NEED THE JOINT EFFORTS AND HIGH RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ENTIRE SOCIETY.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chien affirmed that preventing drowning is not the responsibility of any one individual, but a shared responsibility of all levels of government, sectors, families, schools, and society as a whole. Each ministry, sector, organization, unit, locality, school, and family needs to pay attention, invest in, and implement tasks and solutions appropriate to their functions, duties, and practical conditions to jointly contribute to drowning prevention. For each citizen, grandparents, parents, teachers, students, teenagers, and children, there is a responsibility to actively practice swimming and to be active advocates, encouraging their families, relatives, and friends to practice swimming skills and acquire knowledge and skills to prevent drowning.

PILOT PROGRAM FOR EVALUATING CHILDREN'S SWIMMING ABILITY

The General Department of Sports and Physical Training has been guiding localities to pilot criteria for evaluating children's swimming ability. This means that children must not only be able to swim far and fast, but also possess knowledge of drowning prevention, practice good water safety skills, and perform safe rescue operations.

To help reduce drowning incidents among adults and children, following the approval of the Safe Swimming and Child Drowning Prevention Program for the period 2021-2030, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and local authorities simultaneously organize a nationwide swimming training campaign every May. The Department of Mass Sports and Physical Education develops and disseminates materials and video clips guiding the public and children on swimming techniques, water safety skills, and safe rescue skills. (Image caption: Children learning to swim need a coach to ensure effectiveness and safety. PHOTO: Provided by the interviewee.)

Children learning to swim need a coach to ensure effectiveness and safety.

NGUYEN LOAN

For facilities organizing swimming and diving activities, it is necessary to comply with regulations regarding infrastructure and equipment, have sufficient professional staff, and display rules and guidelines to instruct people and children on safety principles and drowning prevention.

In particular, the sports sector closely collaborates with the Vietnam Women's Union, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Central Youth Union to guide provinces and cities in strengthening the organization of cultural, artistic, and sports activities for children and family members to reduce the situation of children playing in places with potential drowning risks, and to raise public awareness and action on drowning prevention.

We need more portable swimming pools.

According to Mr. Dinh Viet Hung, Secretary General of the Vietnam Swimming Association: "Currently, in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, very few schools have swimming pools. This shortage is a major obstacle to promoting swimming and preventing drowning, especially among children. Even without convenient facilities, Vietnam has solutions such as using mobile swimming pools. We have piloted swimming and drowning prevention classes using mobile pools, and we have seen positive results. This model needs to be replicated."

Quynh Anh

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/cap-bach-phong-chong-duoi-nuoc-185230523233459528.htm