MINSK, 2 August (BelTA) – Carelessness is the main cause of drownings, Belarusian Emergencies Minister Vadim Sinyavsky said on 2 August, BelTA has learned.
“The main causes of drownings are carelessness, drunkenness and swimming near unguarded beaches,” Vadim Sinyavsky said.
The minister noted that the Emergencies Ministry and the OSVOD water safety organization that it runs, as well as the police and the government are working hard to raise awareness of this problem. However, not everyone listens to water safety recommendations.
According to him, the ministry is actively involved in drowning prevention activities: firefighting brigade members providing standby assistance are assigned the role of first responders in drowning and near-drowning cases.
Vadim Sinyavsky delivered a report to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on the ministry's performance in H1 and the fulfillment of the instructions of the head of state. The president drew attention to the large number of drowning deaths: “I am surprised by one fact - we are so overwhelmed by the COVID-19, we were criticized here and there for it. Meanwhile, more than 350 people have drowned since the beginning of the year. Alcohol use was involved in more than 80% of cases. We could say that people themselves are to blame. But we also share some responsibility for it.”
