Prime Minister of Vietnam requests to strengthen drowning prevention measures for students

Prime Minister of Vietnam requests to strengthen drowning prevention measures for students​ (Image from the Internet)

On November 19, 2024, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Official Telegram 118/CD-TTg regarding the enhancement of drowning prevention efforts for children and students.

Prime Minister of Vietnam requests to strengthen drowning prevention measures for students

According to information reported by news agencies, on November 18, 2024, a severe drowning incident involving 06 students occurred in Hien Quan Commune, Tam Nong District, Phu Tho Province, resulting in the death of 02 students, with 04 students still missing.

To promptly address the consequences and proactively prevent drowning accidents involving children and students in Phu Tho Province, and to effectively implement these measures nationwide, the Prime Minister of Vietnam requires:

- The Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Tho Province, the National Committee for Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue to urgently direct functional forces to search for the missing students; to support, visit, and encourage the families of the affected students.

- The chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities:

+ Direct relevant agencies and organizations to closely coordinate with the youth and women's unions in drowning prevention efforts for children and students; direct educational institutions in the area to implement strict management to ensure safety and prevent drowning for children and students.

+ Direct and conduct a review, promptly map warning locations (water pits, lakes, rivers, deep, dangerous water areas, water structures...) that pose a drowning risk in the locality; implement preventive and remedial measures (such as fencing, warning signs; monitoring, reminders...).

+ Direct to strengthen the investment in infrastructure to facilitate swimming lessons in educational institutions; enhance communication on responsibility, disseminate knowledge, and skills in drowning prevention for parents, children, and students through mass media and local broadcasting systems.

+ Inspect the implementation of children's drowning prevention activities by educational institutions, agencies, organizations, and local authorities; clarify the responsibility of leaders in implementing drowning prevention measures in the locality.

- The Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for:

+ Directing and guiding localities and educational institutions to implement management, education measures, and enhance coordination between schools and families to manage children and students, preventing drowning situations as directed by the Prime Minister of Vietnam in Official Telegram 60/CD-TTg in 2024 and Official Telegram 398/CD-TTg in 2022.

+ Guiding and implementing tasks, solutions, and education on drowning prevention knowledge and skills for children and students; promoting the safe swimming movement for students in schools; enhancing propaganda and education to raise awareness, so that children understand and adhere to regulations on drowning prevention, especially at locations prone to drowning risks, ensuring personal safety;

+ Urgently issuing programs, materials, and organizing safe swimming lessons, drowning prevention for children and students in educational institutions, particularly in general education institutions.

- The Ministry of Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs is to increase monitoring and guiding for ministries and central authorities, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to strictly implement the directives of the Prime Minister of Vietnam in Official Telegram 398/CD-TTg in 2022 and Decision 1248/QD-TTg in 2021 on the program for accident, injury prevention, and drowning prevention for children. Increase inspection and examination of the implementation of children's drowning prevention at localities, especially in areas where children’s drowning frequently occurs.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE