But behind those cool minutes is a very high risk of drowning, especially in areas of the Red River, deep lakes, alluvial grounds, whirlpools, where there are no rescue forces, no warning signs and are not managed like safe swimming spots.
Natural rivers and lakes are not like swimming pools. Swimming pools have flat bottoms, controlled depths, rescue personnel and areas specifically for each age group. Red River or spontaneous lakes have fluctuating flows, bumpy bottoms, mudslides, underground obstacles, unexpected deep holes, whirlpools and many factors that cannot be observed with the naked eye. People who know how to swim can still be in danger when they have cramps, exhaustion, choking on water, slipping, getting stuck in obstacles or being swept away by the water.
Drunkenness is dangerous in that it happens very quickly and often silently. Victims do not always cry for help, wave their hands or struggle fiercely as many people think. In some cases, children just slip into deep water, panic, and gradually sink while those around them do not realize it.
Therefore, drowning prevention cannot just stop at general recommendations such as "not swimming in rivers and lakes".
What is more necessary is to specifically manage dangerous points. Local authorities need to review spontaneous beaches, deep lakes, and riverbank areas where people often gather; put up clear warning signs; increase patrols during peak hot hours; handle spontaneous and unsafe service points. Places at high risk need to have barriers, install lifebuoys, arrange rescue phone numbers, and regularly propagate through ward loudspeakers, social networks, and residential groups.
Families also cannot entrust responsibility to schools or authorities. Parents need to clearly tell their children about the dangers of natural rivers and lakes, do not let children arbitrarily go swimming, go fishing, play near the water's edge; do not let children go with friends without adult supervision. For adults, especially teenagers, it is necessary to give up the mentality of underestimating risks. In a hot afternoon, you can find many safer ways to cool down: Go to a managed swimming pool, choose a suitable public space, drink enough water, avoid going outside during hot sunny hours. Do not drink alcohol and then go down to the water; do not swim alone; do not swim in prohibited areas; do not swim when tired, hungry, just full or not knowing the terrain.
In the peak hot summer, the message that needs to be repeated is: Don't turn rivers and lakes into "spontaneous swimming pools" and don't let adult subjectivity become the pain of the whole family.
