Kien Xuong: Proactively prevent drowning for children

In order to limit tragic drowning incidents among children during the summer vacation, Kien Xuong district authorities have stepped up propaganda and implemented many solutions to ensure children's safety.

Every day, Thanh Tan commune swimming pool (Kien Xuong) attracts hundreds of students to learn swimming and exercise.

According to statistics from the district's Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, from 2021 to now, the district has had 10 tragic drowning incidents, all of which were students at schools in the district. Implementing the direction of the district People's Committee, in recent times, primary and secondary schools in the area have organized many after-school activities to equip children with swimming and first aid skills so that they can ensure their own safety and safely rescue drowning people. Parents are regularly reminded to proactively supervise their children during the summer vacation.

Mr. Vu Duc Nam, Chairman of Quang Trung Commune People's Committee, said: Every summer, the commune promotes propaganda on the radio system and in schools about measures to prevent and combat drowning for children. The police force, youth union, and village chiefs are assigned to regularly inspect and review river wharf areas and put up warning signs of dangerous areas. However, a few years ago, there were still 2 tragic drowning cases in the area. This is also a lesson for parents and schools in managing students and children during the summer.

Teacher Pham Ngoc Chau, Vice Principal of Quang Trung Secondary School, shared: The school regularly integrates knowledge and skills in drowning prevention into regular lessons so that students can gain more practical experience. In addition, teachers at the school regularly remind parents to have plans for their children to play safely during the summer vacation, and invest money for their children to learn to swim at swimming pools in the area.

Mr. Hoang Van Khanh, Deputy Director in charge of the District Culture and Sports Center, said: The Center has coordinated with units and localities to organize swimming classes and prevent drowning for teenagers and children in 2023. Coordinate with the Department of Education and Training to develop a plan to organize swimming courses for students at educational institutions throughout the district. Accordingly, schools proactively review and count the number of students who know how to swim and those who do not know how to swim, and propagate to parents and students so that they voluntarily register for swimming lessons. Based on the registration list, schools develop a plan and proactively contact the Center to organize swimming lessons for students. The District Culture and Sports Center will develop a plan and schedule for swimming lessons for schools and prepare the most favorable conditions for effective swimming lessons. The Center also coordinates with related units to organize free swimming lessons for poor students who have overcome difficulties and students in difficult circumstances. During the training process, the Center has promoted the organization of classes to teach children skills in handling situations and contact with water. Through these classes, many talented children have been discovered and selected to join the swimming teams of the commune and district to participate in competitions.

As one of the first investors in swimming pools in Kien Xuong district, Mr. Vu Van Luong, An Co Bac village, Thanh Tan commune said: I put the swimming pool into operation in 2016 with 3 pools suitable for all ages of students. Since then, every year I have coordinated with teachers to train hundreds of students to learn how to swim. To ensure safety when swimming, in addition to regularly checking and treating the water environment, I also do a good job of rescue, rescue, and observing children, especially children who do not know how to swim. Currently, it is the peak season for learning to swim, from 8:00 to 18:30 every day at my family's swimming pool, hundreds of students come to learn to swim and exercise.

Teacher Pham Tien Bao said: For over 10 years, I have coordinated with other teachers to go to swimming pools in the district to teach swimming to 300 - 400 students/year. Every day I teach 3 shifts, each shift from 30 - 50 students. In addition to basic swimming techniques underwater, we also equip the children with how to handle dangerous situations when swimming, helping them have full safety skills when underwater.

The entire Kien Xuong district has nearly 10 fixed swimming pools and many mobile swimming pools in schools. To effectively prevent and combat drowning in children, Kien Xuong district continues to promote propaganda so that parents can regularly remind and closely monitor their children's daily activities, avoid the risk of drowning, and help children have a fun and safe summer vacation.