For a positive experience: Schoolchildren in Vitebsk were told about safety during the holidays.

May 28,Vitebsk . Representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations , the OSVOD, and the police told schoolchildren at the Vitebsk Region media center how to spend their summer holidays productively and positively, while keeping personal safety in mind, BelTA reports.

Inappropriate behavior near bodies of water remains a factor in children's deaths during the holidays. Sergei Meleshkin, head of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, told the children that water mischief leads to tragic consequences. In 2023, nine of the 74 people who drowned in the region's waters were minors. This includes careless games, when schoolchildren compete to see who can dive deeper, without knowing the bottom conditions, and being in the water while in a state ofAlcohol intoxication , and riding on inflatable mattresses without life jackets. In each case, the tragic outcome could have been avoided if the children and adults had followed basic safety rules.
Sergei Meleshkin reminded the students present in the classroom, including online , that swimming in undesignated areas, such as so-called wild beaches, is prohibited, and that minors should only relax near water under the supervision of adults.

Young Vitebsk residents were taught how to recognize a drowning person and what to do if they see someone in distress. The main recommendation is to immediately call an adult or a rescuer for help. Attempting to independently pull a drowning person out of the water who is out of control and could pull the rescuer down with them can lead to a double tragedy, so teenagers need to be mindful of their own abilities. If possible, it's best to use improvised means such as poles, ropes, and inflatable rings. That's why OSVOD staff advise going to the beach only with adults who can help in an emergency.
Regarding children's safety at home, representatives from all agencies agreed on one thing: playing with matches and flammable objects in the home is prohibited. Children who spend a lot of time on social media should remember that the internet is full of traps for luring schoolchildren into illegal activities. These include, for example, dangerous part-time jobs at online drug markets, incitement to damage public property, and the incitement of minors to produce pornographic materials. If boys and girls have fallen victim to cybercriminals, they can contact the police and report how they were exploited. Minors are exempt from criminal liability if they voluntarily report drug use and attempts to use them as couriers, drug dealers, or athletes.

Schoolchildren were taught the importance of preventing damage to property on railways and the penalties for throwing foreign objects onto the tracks. Furthermore, when crossing railway tracks, they should first ensure there is no train nearby and remove their headphones to ensure they can hear the warning signal of an approaching locomotive.

"Following simple safety rules will ensure a vacation that will leave only positive memories. Always try to consider the consequences of your actions, listen to the advice of adults, and your summer vacation will be a wonderful experience. We value the life of every person, especially a child. You too will become parents one day, so be a role model for everyone now and remember that you are just as responsible for your own life as your parents," concluded Sergey Meleshkin.