During a press conference held in Naujojoje Vilnioje on Tuesday, Evaldas Tamašauskas, head of the Department of Civil Protection and Rescue of the Civilian Security Directorate (PAGD), addressed the critical challenge of reducing drowning incidents. Tamašauskas highlighted the necessity of public awareness regarding water safety, noting that statistics indicate a significant risk, particularly concerning young people. According to data presented by the department, the past five years have seen concerning trends regarding aquatic safety.
Over this period, records show that 20 children and 15 minors have drowned in the country. While the statistics underscore the severity of the risk, the department also reported substantial rescue efforts. During the same five years, firefighters successfully saved 551 individuals from drowning.
This averages out to approximately 110 persons rescued annually, with an average of four children saved each year. Tamašauskas noted that many drowning incidents are reported in water bodies located in rural areas. In addition to the official statistics, the conference was marked by accounts of heroism, including a recent instance where a Kaunas resident captured footage of a life-saving act just before a wedding ceremony.
The data presented emphasizes that prevention remains the primary focus. PAGD continues to monitor these figures, urging the public to exercise extreme caution around all natural water sources to mitigate the high risk of drowning that affects the community.
Topics: #children #five #years
This is deeply upsetting news; preventative measures need to be much more visible and enforced near bodies of water.