How is the prevention of human deaths on water carried out? Information from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus

A comprehensive set of measures is being implemented to prevent fatalities on water bodies, ranging from the implementation of organizational and technical solutions to educating citizens on life safety fundamentals.

To ensure safe recreation on water bodies daily, over 1.7 thousand employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Belarusian Voluntary Society for the Rescue of Persons on Waters (OSVOD) are on duty
(this includes 386 divers, 311 motorboat operators, 140 medical personnel, and 872 lifeguards at rescue stations and posts).

The protection of human life on the republic's water bodies is carried out by 67 rescue stations and 185 OSVOD rescue posts.

Explanatory and preventive work is continuously conducted among the population, aimed at maximally reducing the probability of fatalities on the republic's waters. This work is carried out with the participation of all interested bodies, services, and organizations.

Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and OSVOD address labor collectives, educational institutions, preschools, and participate in radio and television broadcasts on issues of safe behavior on water bodies. At rescue stations and OSVOD rescue posts, preventive information is broadcast through public address systems.

Daily, in each district, as part of the "Summer Patrol" campaign, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and OSVOD conduct raids on recreational areas near water bodies, with the aim of reducing accidents.

Weekly, to draw public attention to the issue of fatalities on water bodies, SMS messages are sent to citizens.

To prevent and mitigate fatalities on water bodies, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited on many beaches across the country by decisions of local executive and administrative bodies.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations and OSVOD have established clear interaction with law enforcement agencies. Police patrols deployed for duty near water bodies, together with OSVOD and Ministry of Emergency Situations rescuers, conduct explanatory work with citizens regarding the inadmissibility of consuming alcoholic beverages, as well as being in public places and swimming while intoxicated, swimming in prohibited areas, and boating on unsuitable

measures shall be applied to persons drinking alcoholic beverages or being in a state of intoxication in public recreation areas near water. Administrative measures shall be applied.

For the first time in the country, aviation preventive raids were conducted at bathing sites and public recreation areas to draw people's attention to the issue of drowning in water bodies, to inform them about safety rules, as well as to identify unauthorized bathing sites and violations of water safety regulations.