The free-of-charge swimming class at the Lý Tự Trọng Primary School in Ea Kuêh Commune, Cư M’gar District, the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyên Dung

ĐẮK LẮK — A training session on basic drowning prevention skills held by teacher Mai Văn Chuyền was filled with excitement and opened-hearted talks between students and the teacher.

During the session, students not only listened to Chuyền’s instruction, but also practiced for real situations that could arise.

Chuyền works at the Ngô Mây Junior Secondary School in Ea M’droh Commune, Cư M’gar District, the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk.

He is also the founder of the club "For our beloved students" organised at the Ngô Quyền Primary School in Buôn Ma Thuột City.

Quản Anh Phương, student of class 5E, said that the training session was very practical.

Thanks to it, she knew how to save herself and others.

“In case someone is drowning, I won’t jump in but scream loudly so that adults can come to rescue. At the same time, I will find floating objects such as floats and balls and throw in and help save the victim,” said Phương.

Chuyền said that to apply the programme "For our beloved students", the Cư M’gar District had organised many activities for children, especially in remote areas.

The activities included free swimming lessons, or bringing mobile swimming pools to remote areas.

But, said Chuyền, to reduce child drownings, learning to swim was only one of the solutions.

To improve efficiency, cooperation from parents, students and teachers is needed.

Thus, a programme to give basic knowledge and skills to prevent drowning was held.

After more than two years, the programme has been held at 40 schools in the province, reaching more than 19,000 students.

It teaches students how to prevent and combat drowning, ways to rescue victims while ensuring personal safety, and basic first aid skills.

“I want to replicate the programme. In the near future, we will expand to other localities so that teachers will also have the skills and knowledge. And the programme will be more effective," said Chuyền.

Swimming classes

In early March this year, the Lý Tự Trọng Primary School in Ea Kuêh Commune, Cư M’gar District organised two free swimming classes for poor and disadvantaged students.

The classes were taught by Nguyễn Đình Ngư, the school's physical education teacher.

Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, 30 students from grade two to grade five are taught swimming skills, drowning rescue methods and survival skills.

They are very excited to join the classes.

H'Trần K Buôr, student of class 4A2, said that participating in the swimming class made him very happy.

“I hope the classes will be expanded so many poor people can learn how to swim,” he said.

Ngư said that Ea Kuêh Commune had many ponds and lakes, and students could easily go to bathe and swim with the potential risk of drowning.

Through the classes, they learn how to save themselves and others.

From the beginning of March this year until the end of summer, the Trần Quang Diệu Junior Secondary School in Buôn Ma Thuột City had swimming classes for students.

Võ Thị Thu Ba, the schools’ deputy principal, said that swimming was not in the general education programme, but the school has flexibly organised it.

Drowning prevention is included in life skills lessons for sixth graders.

Teachers regularly update information on the issue for students, especially on hot sunny days.

Work together

Đắk Lắk Province has over 500,000 children accounting for 26.7 per cent of the population.

Statistics from the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) show that in 2021-23, 216 children died from accidents in general, of which 181 drowned, accounting for 83.7 per cent.

In the first three months this year, the locality recorded six deaths due to drowning. Just earlier this week, three young students (one born in 2015 and two born in 2014) in Ea Ktur Commune, Cư Kuin District drowned while taking a swim in the local reservoir as they were returning home from their school, marking the first fatalities of this kind in the year in the commune.

Most drowning cases in Đắk Lắk Province similarly occur in rural areas and in summer.

There are many factors in child drowning, but one main issue is that the province has many ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and irrigation dams.

People in rural and remote areas still face many difficulties. Parents are busy making a living and do not have time to always watch their children.

Children are active and curious, and are not fully aware of possible dangers.

Nguyễn Trần Ngọc Nhân, deputy head of the Social Protection Department under the provincial DoLISA, said that the DoLISA had issued many official dispatches to districts to strengthen child drowning prevention and control.

In addition, coordination between the DoLISA, the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Youth Union has taken many practical actions to enhance life skills for children.

In 2019-23, the DoLISA has worked with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, with technical support from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Children, to implement the Child Drowning Prevention Project in Ea Kar and Cư M'gar districts.

The project taught safe swimming skills to 3,800 children; and safety skills in the water environment for 4,200 children from six to under 16 years old.

As many as 3,550 parents and teachers were trained.

A total of 26,000 leaflets were delivered and 4,416 radio programmes were broadcasted in communes and schools. — VNS