Safety measures at water bodies during the summer period

  With the onset of hot weather and the summer holiday season, everyone seeks to spend time outdoors, enjoying a dip or two in a body of water.   What kind of summer holiday is complete without a swim? It's dull, to say the least. Especially when the sun is beating down, the cool water of a pond, river, lake, or sea is so inviting, beckoning you to dive in.  Diving in and swimming is good, even beneficial. But the little things, often forgotten by both children and adults, can spoil all the enjoyment. Sad statistics indicate that as of 19.06.2024, 114 citizens have drowned in bodies of water across the Republic of Belarus, including 5 minors (in 2023 – 129 citizens, including 4 minors). In the Vitebsk region, 24 citizens have drowned (in 2023 – 18 citizens, including 1 minor). In the Lepel district, 2 citizens have drowned, and 2 minors were rescued.      

The main cause of accidents on the water can be attributed to the failure of citizens to observe safety measures near water and their ignorance of the simplest rules of conduct on the water.               

               

RULES FOR SAFE CONDUCT ON THE WATER 

1. Swimming should only take place in specially equipped areas: beaches, swimming pools, bathing areas. 

2. Do not swim in unknown locations, as such places often feature sharp inclines, drop-offs, submerged snags, and dense vegetation, which can lead to accidents. 

3. Do not enter the water while under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol impairs normal brain function. 

3. You should not stay in the water for more than 10-15 minutes. Hypothermia can lead to cramps. 4. It is dangerous to jump or dive into water in an unknown area – you could hit your head on the bottom, a snag, a pile, etc., break your neck, lose consciousness, and drown. 

7. Do not engage in games in the water involving holding a swimmer underwater, as this can lead to a tragedy. 

8. Do not swim far from the shore; this can be dangerous. Try to swim parallel to the shoreline rather than out into deeper water, as this will allow you to reach the shore more easily in unforeseen circumstances. 

8. Do not leave young children unattended near water, and during swimming, stay within arm's reach of them. They may stumble, fall, get into a hole, and drown.

9. Do not swim on inflatable mattresses or inflatable toys. Wind or current may carry them far from the shore, and waves may swamp and overturn them, or air may escape, leading to a loss of buoyancy.

10. When on the beach, do not swim beyond the buoys marking the swimming area, as this can be dangerous. Adhering to basic safety measures will allow you to spend time safely by the water. Take care of yourselves.

Head of the Lepel Rescue Station I.A. Mikhno