Long An equips children with underwater skills hinh anh 1Children are being taught swimming skills in a swimming pool. (Source: swimforlifevietnam.org)

Long An (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Long An has taken a number of measures to prevent children from drowning accidents, especially during the summer and rainy seasons when they usually take bath in canals.

According to Le Tan Dung, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the locality has organised classes teaching swimming skills and launched communication campaigns to raise awareness among of teachers, parents and students of accidents and injuries, especially drowning.

Schools have been urged to effectively manage their students and organise safe summer activities as well as equip children with swimming techniques and include lessons on underwater skills in the curricula in primary and secondary schools.

Schools must review areas with high drowning or accident risks to take precautionary measures like erecting fences, planting warning signs at lakes, rivers, canals, deep and dangerous waters.

Besides, the province will continue the “Safe house for children” model, effectively implement the action month for children in 2016, and build swimming pools for children and the community.

According to statistic figures of the provincial Department of Labours, Invalids and Social Affairs, the province has around 367,400 children aged under 16, accounting for 24.72 percent of its total population. The number of children aged under six is around 142,000.

In 2015, 22 children lost their lives in drownings, which have also left five children dead since the beginning of 2016.-VNA

VNA