Free swimming lessons for children in mountainous areas of Quang Ngai

For nearly 3 years, hundreds of mountainous children in Tra Tan commune (Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province) have participated in free swimming classes organized by Tra Tan commune Youth Union, thanks to which children learn to swim, reducing the risk of drowning.

Summer is coming, children in the mountainous area of Tra Tan commune (Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province) eagerly look forward to the free swimming class organized by Tra Tan commune Youth Union.

Mr. Truong Van Lam, Deputy Secretary of Tra Tan Commune Youth Union, said: “Tra Bong is a mountainous district with many ponds, lakes, streams, and waterfalls. Every year, drowning incidents often occur, leaving many families and relatives in pain. The reason is that the awareness and general understanding of families and the community about preventing and combating drowning accidents are still limited. Children lack swimming skills and safety skills in the water environment. With the desire to create conditions for children to learn swimming skills and prevent drowning, for nearly 3 years, the Commune Youth Union has organized swimming lessons for children.”

The instructors are officers and members of the Tra Tan Commune Youth Union, teaching the children hand and foot movements and breathing. Photo: Tra Tan Commune Youth Union

Right from the beginning of summer, Mr. Lam conducted a survey and chose a branch of the Giang River, an area with calm, shallow water and no rocks or moss; then, he took a piece of rope stretched from both sides of the river and divided it into 3 lanes with a length of 5-6m to create a safe swimming area for children to learn to swim. Mr. Lam shared: "Because the commune is in difficulty, has not built a swimming pool yet, and has limited funds, we have taken advantage of the river area to teach swimming and drowning prevention skills."

Every summer, the swimming class of Tra Tan Commune Youth Union attracts 100-150 local children to participate in swimming lessons, divided into 2 classes, aged 8-12. The instructors are cadres and members of the Youth Union, with the support of members of the Tra Tan Commune Social Volunteer Team and Tra Tan Commune Health Station.

Children learn how to put on life jackets before going into the water. Photo: Tra Tan Commune Youth Union

In the class, doctors and nurses from Tra Tan Commune Health Station instructed children on first aid, respiration, external cardiac massage and drowning prevention skills. Next, the instructors focused on teaching children basic skills such as arm and leg movements, breathing, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle swimming, and guided them to recognize the level of danger and how to handle situations when encountering an accident.

Directly instructing children to get acquainted with the aquatic environment. Photo: Tra Tan Commune Youth Union

Ho Van Khai (grade 4, Tra Tan Primary and Secondary School) said: “I have been taking swimming classes since 2022. Every summer, I sign up for classes because I have many friends to study with and it is fun. I know how to swim so I can help other friends learn to swim.”