Why does drowning often occur in Thanh Ha district?

Thanh Ha district is the locality with the most rivers in the province. Ha Dong area in particular is surrounded by rivers, including many large rivers such as Thai Binh and Van Uc. In early April, a group of 9th grade students from Thanh Quang Secondary School went swimming together, unfortunately one of them drowned. Previously, at the end of March, a student in Tan Viet commune also died from drowning.

There are many reasons for drowning. Mr. Ngo Ba Dinh, Vice Chairman of Thanh Ha District People's Committee, said that currently, many families and parents are busy working and do not have time to take care of their children. Children aged 14-15 often go out together, sneak out to play, and their parents cannot control them. However, the objective reason is that children have not been properly informed and educated about the dangers of drowning. Even in many places, there are signs warning of drowning, but children still go swimming.

In addition, Thanh Ha lacks facilities for swimming pools and hygienic swimming ponds for children to bathe in. The district currently has 3 fixed swimming pools in the communes of Tan Viet, Thanh Khe and Thanh Ha town; 2 hygienic swimming ponds in Thanh An and Thanh Hai communes; 3 mobile swimming pools in the communes of Cam Che, Thanh Lang and Thanh Hong. Facilities for swimming are still lacking. Swimming pools and ponds are not operating at full capacity.

Some communes and towns have swimming pools that do not cater to all ages, mainly for young children. Mobile swimming pools have not been fully exploited. Many students, teenagers and young adults who do not know how to swim still go swimming together and do not know the dangerous areas. Many students have not been trained in drowning prevention skills.

Entering the peak of the hot summer, the need for swimming among young people is very high. If there are no measures to warn and overcome the limitations of swimming facilities, there will be many potential dangers. According to statistics from the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Thanh Ha district, each year in the district there are 4-5 drowning cases, which is high in the province. People who drown are usually school-age because they often invite each other to go swimming in the river.

After two tragic drowning incidents occurred in early summer, the People's Committee of Thanh Ha district issued an official dispatch directing communes, towns, the Department of Education and Training, and educational institutions to strengthen propaganda and education on drowning prevention skills for children and students; warning students not to swim or bathe in rivers and lakes without knowing how to swim and without an adult accompanying them. Communes and towns have reviewed areas where drowning frequently occurs and are potentially dangerous to announce on the commune's loudspeakers and schools; and erected barriers, warning signs, watchdogs, and reminders in these areas.

The district clearly defines the responsibility of leaders of communes and towns if drowning accidents occur due to subjective reasons from the direction and implementation of work or if many child drowning accidents occur at the facility without effective remedial measures.

Authorities should strengthen communication to parents and students in the management, supervision and care of children. For swimming ponds and swimming pools, where there are many swimmers in the summer, it is necessary to organize forces to monitor, manage and be ready to rescue victims. Arrange life jackets for children and students. Strengthen the rescue force at the facility, the shock force, and the self-managed river rescue team to promptly handle incidents...

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Hoai Nam, Deputy Head of Thanh Ha District Police, said that in the early days of summer, the Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue Police Team of the unit has increased propaganda work on drowning prevention for students of many schools such as Ha Dong High School, Thanh Xa Middle School, Thanh Quang Middle School... Here, officers and soldiers have instructed students on how to prevent drowning, rescue skills in case of an accident and how to use swimming buoys proficiently.