Due to extreme and prolonged hot weather over recent weeks, most of Da Nang’s beaches have been crowded with visitors, especially in the late afternoons and in the evenings. Included are Pham Van Dong, My Khe, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Hoang Sa, Vo Nguyen Giap, and Truong Sa beaches.

A local beach crowded with visitors

Lifesavers said drowning is the leading cause of death in children in Viet Nam, especially in summer season. They, therefore, highlighted the importance of swimming training programmes for pupils in preventing and reducing deaths of children by drowning.

Mr Nguyen Quoc Vinh, Head of the Da Nang Lifeguard Team under the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Tourism Beaches, said dozens of children lose their parents daily during the peak tourist season, causing a high risk of drowning. The main reason is thought to be that the parents did not pay close attention to their children.

After receiving reports about straying children or searching for lost children, the Management Board has informed on loudspeakers placed along the beaches. Besides, security team members have also contacted each other by handheld walkie talkies, ensuring that the search activities for lost children could be conducted in quick and exact manner.

“Children are more prone to the effects of extreme temperatures, including heatstroke, because heat tolerance is affected by body size. Children are smaller and weigh less, which makes them more vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. In addition, children often run and jump during hot weather, making their body temperature increase quickly. Therefore, they may be more susceptible to heat stroke as they go swim at high body temperatures”, Mr Vinh noted.

Local lifesavers suggested that parents should equip their children with lifejackets, and keep them away from non-swimming areas having warning signs placed in order to prevent drowning.