According to statistics from the Điện Biên provincial Center for Disease Control, from 2025 to present, the entire province has recorded 26 drowning cases, the majority of which involve children. Therefore, child drowning prevention and control work is receiving close attention from school units and numerous families through many practical activities.

Sam Mứn commune has many ponds, lakes, and canals. During summer vacations and holidays, children often gather to play near deep-water areas, increasing the risk of drowning accidents. Facing this reality, schools in the commune have proactively integrated drowning prevention and control skills education into their teaching curriculum.

Under the topic “Respiratory system” in a Biology class, teacher Trần Thị Vân at Pom Lót Secondary School in Sam Mứn commune integrated drowning prevention and control education. By analyzing the oxygen deficiency mechanism when airways are filled with water, the lesson was expanded to identify the causes and risks leading to drowning. On that basis, students were guided to recognize safety hazard factors and warning sign systems around rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes, while approaching hypothetical situations to form appropriate handling skills when encountering incidents. This approach demonstrates the school’s proactivity in bringing practical matters into lectures, helping students enhance their ability to respond to real-world risks.

Trần Thị Vân shared: “In addition to the textbook curriculum, we look for suitable videos to improve drowning prevention and control skills for children, helping them handle falling into water by themselves or deal with unexpected situations.”

To help students gain more knowledge on drowning prevention, schools in Sam Mứn commune also increase the organization of extracurricular classes, focusing on how to use life jackets and swim rings, first-aid skills for drowning accidents, and emergency situations. Through these, the children gain the necessary skills to protect themselves and those around them. Furthermore, mastering drowning prevention knowledge helps them become active communicators who disseminate information to friends and family members to jointly prevent and reduce drowning incidents.

Wishing to help their children practice health and learn underwater safety skills, at this time, many parents in Điện Biên Phủ ward have registered their children for swimming classes. Alongside basic swimming techniques like breathing underwater, practicing floating, swimming strokes, kicking, and arm pulling, they are also guided by coaches on additional skills to handle dangerous situations, such as identifying hazardous water areas, rescuing drowning victims, and initial first-aid techniques.

Vũ Trung Thành from Điện Biên Phủ ward shared: “My family enrolled our child in a swimming class with the hope of helping them exercise and improve physical strength. However, what I care about more is safety skills when underwater. I find these contents highly practical, especially under conditions where many ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams pose potential risks. With these skills, children will be more confident, know how to protect themselves, and mitigate unfortunate risks that might occur.”

The child swimming program is structured on a roadmap from basic to advanced, where the initial phase focuses on getting familiar with water, controlling breathing, floating techniques, and keeping body balance. Afterward, they are guided to coordinate leg kicks and arm pulls according to basic swimming styles like breaststroke and freestyle. Typically, with regular training intensity, after about 10 to 15 sessions, children can form basic swimming skills and move short distances in the water.

Swimming coach Trần Thanh Quỳnh stated: “To swim proficiently and handle situations well, it requires a longer training period, combined with supplementing safety skills such as self-rescue floating, breath control during incidents, and initial first-aid techniques. Present-day swimming instruction does not just look at techniques but also highlights equipping children with drowning prevention and control capacities. Examples include staying calm when falling into water, floating to conserve strength, finding a safe grip point, calling for assistance, and supporting victims correctly.”

Reality shows that drowning accidents are the leading cause of death among children, particularly during summer break. To prevent drowning accidents for children, alongside the involvement of schools, governments, and local mass organizations, each parent needs to dedicate more time to caring for and protecting them during the upcoming summer vacation.