A press conference on "Child Safety During the Summer Period" was held at the Vitebsk Region Media Center
Delivering information to children
– Summer is a long-awaited time for schoolchildren. They have a lot of free time for socializing with friends, recreation, and also dangerous games. Therefore, the main task of all prevention entities and parents is to convey the necessary safety rules to children, because the life of every child is important to us, – emphasized Sergey Meshkin, member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, head of the regional Emergency Situations Ministry department. – We want our children to grow up healthy and happy, to benefit the state in the future, and to become personal examples for their own children. That is why, annually, together with other prevention entities, we conduct a series of events aimed at preventing emergencies and the deaths of minors. Since the opening of the first of them in 2017, almost 200,000 people have been trained in three Emergency Situations Ministry safety centers alone, 85% of whom are children.
NO GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET!
– Over the past four years, we have brought about 800 people to administrative responsibility for violating the rules of operation of small vessels – these include rowing and motor boats, catamarans, jet skis, and other watercraft. To avoid breaking the law, one must know a number of rules. Firstly, the age limit: operating rowing boats is permitted from the age of 16, and vessels with engines – from the age of 18. Secondly, it is mandatory to wear a life jacket, – said Alexander Yarmosch, head of the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of the Vitebsk Region. – Under no circumstances should you swim on an inflatable mattress; it is designed for relaxation on the shore, not on the water. Another important rule: the number of children in one vessel should not exceed the number of adults.
A PERSON CAN DIE IN 20 – 30 SECONDS
– First of all, you should remember that swimming is only allowed at specially equipped beaches and under adult supervision. You should not swim in deep water, only swim where you can feel the bottom, and it is forbidden to consume alcohol, – emphasized the head of the diving and rescue service of the regional organization of OSVOD, Vyacheslav Gorin. – Unfortunately, children drown every year. One of the main causes of death is laryngospasm. This happens when water gets into the respiratory tract, the person cannot speak, breathe, and therefore can die in 20-30 seconds, as they lose consciousness and go underwater. This also happens when they inhale water, which is especially common when diving. Another frequent cause of death is trauma.
CRIMES ARE COMMITTED OUT OF IDLENESS
– Children under 16 years of age are not allowed to be outside their homes without adult supervision from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM. In the dark, you should wear a flicker or another reflective element. If you have younger sisters or brothers, it is better not to open windows wide during hot weather so that they do not fall out, – emphasized the senior inspector of the prevention department of the public security police administration of the regional executive committee, Veronika Suvorova. – Find a hobby or an interest group so that you have something to do, because in most cases, minors commit crimes and offenses out of idleness.
THE ONLY FREE CHEESE IS IN A MOUSETRAP
– Drug addiction is one of the most pressing issues today. This year, seven criminal cases have already been initiated against eight minors for the distribution of narcotic drugs. I remind you that criminal liability begins at the age of 14, and a teenager can receive a sentence of 8 to 15 years. You must not post advertisements on buildings, agree to easy money online, because the only free cheese is in a mousetrap. You will not receive the promised funds from online store employees, and they may start blackmailing you, – noted Yevgeny Lisichenok, Senior Inspector of the Department for Drug Control and Human Trafficking of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Regional Executive Committee. – Do not send intimate photos of yourself, as they can be used to blackmail you later. Remember the basic rules: do not follow a stranger at their request and do not get into cars with strangers.
LOOK LEFT AND RIGHT
– You should not cross railway tracks while wearing headphones, stand on the edge of the platform, break windows, throw stones onto the rails, or climb onto trains. Be attentive when crossing railway tracks: look left and right, pay attention to warning signs and the traffic light at the crossing, – said Dmitry Kazakevich, Senior Inspector of the Department for Public Order Protection and Prevention of the Public Security Police of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Regional Executive Committee. – We remind you that you should not use laser pointers, as they can interfere with pilots. Also, today in Belarus, the storage and use of drones are temporarily prohibited; they can be handed over for storage at the airport.
From June 3 to August 16, the traditional Ministry of Emergency Situations campaign "Holidays without Smoke and Fire!" will be held in the region. Its main goal is to prevent child deaths and injuries, as well as fires caused by children's pranks with fire. Throughout the summer, rescuers will conduct educational events using various modern engaging forms of work. Ministry of Emergency Situations employees will tell children about the risks of uncontrolled water activities, the dangers of sand quarries, and pranks with fire. Parents will be reminded once again about the dangers of leaving young children unattended.