Water recreation safety is a shared responsibility

During the summer period, especially in hot weather, people are drawn to water bodies like magnets. Few consider the work done by all preventive entities to ensure the safe recreation of citizens on water bodies.

The work on organizing recreation for citizens by water in the summer period begins long before the start of the swimming season by local executive and administrative bodies, and other entities for the prevention of offenses: beach locations are determined, organizations responsible for their operation are appointed, the bottom of the beach waters is surveyed, and infrastructure is prepared.

Currently, there are over 60 beaches operating in the region.

Internal affairs bodies, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and OSVOD have organized raid activities in places of recreation for citizens by water.

However, safety of recreation on water bodies depends not only on the work of the Internal Affairs bodies, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and OSVOD, but also to a significant extent on the behavior of the vacationers themselves.

It should be remembered that swimming in unauthorized places increases the risk of an emergency situation due to the unexamined bottom of the water area, ignorance of the water body's features, and the absence of individuals nearby who can provide quick and qualified assistance in an unforeseen situation.

The risk of death while swimming significantly increases if citizens are in the water while intoxicated.

In addition, it should be known that Article 24.42 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as the Code) provides for administrative responsibility for swimming in prohibited places in the form of a fine from 1 to 3 basic units.

The consumption of alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages and beer in public places, including recreation areas on water bodies, and appearing in public places in a state of alcoholic intoxication that offends human dignity and public morality, constitute an offense provided for by Art. 19.3 of the Code. For the first commission of the specified offense, administrative responsibility is provided in the form of a fine of up to 8 basic units. Repeated commission of this offense

offenses within a year after the imposition of an administrative penalty entail administrative responsibility in the form of a fine ranging from 2 to 15 base units, or community service, or administrative arrest.

Remember that adherence to the basic rules of conduct on the water will help save lives and make your recreation enjoyable.

 

Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the Vitebsk Region for Supervision of the Enforcement of Legislation on Crime Prevention and Other Offenses I.V. Kryukovskaya