Prevention of deaths on water

With the arrival of summer and hot weather, many citizens prefer to spend their free time at the bodies of water in our district. However, not all vacationers think about observing safety rules when swimming.

According to statistical data from the Vitebsk regional organization of the Republican state association "Belarusian Republican Society for Rescue on Waters", it has been established that there is both an increase in deaths due to drowning and an increase in the number of drowned individuals in a state of alcoholic intoxication in the region.

For example, in 2018, out of 58 drowned individuals, 19 were in a state of alcoholic intoxication. For the entire year 2019, out of 63 drowned individuals, 22 citizens were already intoxicated.

In the first 5 months of 2020 alone, 25 people drowned (compared to 20 in the first 5 months of 2019), of whom 9 (compared to 3) were in a state of alcoholic intoxication.

Thus, alcohol abuse is one of the main causes of death on the water.

Other causes of death on the water include violation of safe behavior rules and carelessness.

It is worth remembering that it is unacceptable to swim in prohibited areas of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and other bodies of water; to consume alcoholic beverages on the beach; to swim beyond buoys and other markers; to approach motor and rowing boats and other watercraft; to climb on buoys and other structures; to jump into the water from boats, ships, piers, or other structures not adapted for these purposes; to swim on boards, sun loungers, logs, inner tubes, or inflatable mattresses; to organize water games involving diving and grabbing swimmers, as well as to perform other actions that may cause an accident, and to leave young children unsupervised.

Furthermore, it should be reminded that the law provides for liability for violating these rules.

In accordance with Article 23.63 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus, swimming in prohibited areas of rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water entails the imposition of an administrative penalty in the form of a fine ranging from one to three basic units. And for consuming alcoholic beverages in

appearing in a public place in a state of intoxication is subject to administrative liability under Art. 17.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus in the form of a fine of up to 15 base amounts or administrative arrest.

Strict adherence to water safety rules will help you and your loved ones preserve life and health.

Head of the Department for Supervision of Inquiry
and Operational-Investigative Activities
Regional Prosecutor's Office Vasily Parusov