Since the beginning of the year, 24 people drowned in the reservoirs of the Vitebsk region

May 24, Vitebsk. Since the beginning of the year, 24 people have drowned in the waters of the Vitebsk region, the main cause of death was non-compliance with personal safety rules. Sofya Glinskaya, the official representative of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations , told a BelTA correspondent about this .

“Since the beginning of the year, according to the operational data of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 24 people have drowned in the Vitebsk region. In most cases, citizens drown due to non-compliance with personal safety rules on water bodies, both in summer and winter. Coming close to a reservoir, people do not take into account the state of the coast fishermen do not wear life jackets, they go out on thin ice. Emergencies Ministry workers managed to save,” Sofya Glinskaya said.

She also noted that this year there has been an increase in the number of deaths in the waters of the northern region. For the same period in 2022, 14 cases of death on the water were recorded in the region.

One of the most dangerous factors in the death of people in the waters of the Vitebsk region is the abuse of alcoholic beverages. In early April, in the Postavy region, a fishing enthusiast went for a catch, drank ALCOHOL and, flaring up in the sun, decided to take a swim. The opening of the "bathing" season ended badly for him.

Tragedies with the death of children on the water can also be avoided if you follow the kids and tell them in time how dangerous it is to play in the water without the presence of adults. It should be remembered that an accident can occur near the house. So, this year in the Miory district, a girl drowned in a flooded basement, when the attention of her parents weakened for only a few minutes.

On the eve of the swimming season, the Ministry of Emergency Situations urges residents of the region to be especially careful and remember the rules for safe recreation near water bodies. "This period is characterized by an increase in cases of death of people on the water. During the swimming season of 2022, 16 people died in the reservoirs of the region, 13 of whom were in a state ofalcohol intoxication . All these incidents happened outside the areas of operation of rescue posts and OSVOD stations, that is, in places of the so-called spontaneous recreation of citizens," the official representative of the regional UMChS emphasized.

Rescuers remind that the observance by the inhabitants of the region of the rules of behavior near the water can save lives and prevent the tragedy. In swimming areas, limited by buoys, fences and warning signs, you can not swim beyond the designated area. It is forbidden to jump into the water from dams, piers, boats and boats, to dive in places where the state of the bottom is unknown to vacationers. Citizens should remember that it is impossible to give false signs of distress, such "games" on the water are unacceptable. You can only ride boats and catamarans in life jackets. If you experience a muscle cramp while swimming, try to lie on your back and get to the shore if you are far from it, and immediately call for help.

And most importantly, in a state of alcoholic intoxication, it is strictly forbidden to swim and go into the water, because "under a degree" a person's reaction slows down and the perception of the objective surrounding picture becomes dull, and he can choke even in shallow water.

Particular attention should be paid to children. All water games must be accompanied by an adult. Kids need to be kept at arm's length and to prevent cases when a child tries to enter the water on his own and even more so to swim away.

The rescue service works around the clock and is in touch by numbers 101 and 112. However, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations urge vacationers to think first of all about their safety, so that summer holidays on the water bring only pleasant impressions and memories.