Brian Jeffrey
| A pupil from Tiền An Primary School in Bắc Ninh City practicing floating. — VNA/VNS Photo |
The Ministry of Education and Training has released new safety protocols aimed at decreasing incidents involving children and traffic accidents.
Despite these efforts, tragic incidents persisted in 2024.
One tragic case occurred on September 16 at Bùi Thị Xuân Primary and Secondary Ethnic Boarding School in Đắk Lắk Province, where a seven-year-old student lost their life after being hit by a vehicle on school grounds.
The next day, a fifth grader at Đại Thắng Primary School in Hà Nội faced critical injuries from falling off the school’s second floor.
Recently, a boating accident in the Mực River in Thanh Hóa Province resulted in the drowning of two children who were enjoying a trip with friends.
The broader statistics show a slight improvement.
Reports indicate that child fatalities due to accidents in Việt Nam dropped by about four percent over recent years, equating to around 100 fewer deaths each year.
While this statistic is promising, experts warn that it still falls short of the long-term goal for injury reduction, particularly given the ongoing high death rates from drowning and traffic incidents, which claim roughly 3,600 children’s lives each year.
The ministry identified weak communication strategies as a key barrier to effective implementation of its safety measures, attributing liability for the tragic incident in Đắk Lắk to the school’s failure to enforce regulations preventing vehicle access.
Experts recommended leveraging local funds to enhance the “safe house” initiative to provide safer environments for children. These residences would feature protective barriers around water areas, secure covering for wells and tanks, locked away hazardous items, reinforced windows, and childproof kitchens.
Dương Khánh Vân, an expert from the World Health Organization in Việt Nam, highlighted the necessity of a comprehensive approach for preventing child drowning, which should include safety education and community childcare support, especially during floods.
She pointed out the importance of fencing around bodies of water, establishing warning signals, and making life jackets mandatory for children.
Nguyễn Tùng Lâm, Chairman of the Education Council at Đinh Tiên Hoàng High School in Hà Nội, noted that while safety regulations exist, the challenge is ensuring compliance. He advocated for more stringent inspections and harsher penalties for breaches to reduce child accidents.
Đặng Hoa Nam, head of the Department of Children’s Affairs, emphasized that child injury prevention initiatives can decrease mortality rates by nearly fifty percent. He called for increased funding for such programs, urging local authorities to prioritize child safety in their budgets.
The Ministry of Health reports that annually, over 370,000 children experience injuries in Việt Nam, with about 6,600 fatalities, which accounts for roughly one-third of the total injuries. — VNS
