The Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office analyzed the effectiveness of measures taken to ensure the safe recreation of minors during the summer period
For reference: in accordance with the decision of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, a number of organizational and practical measures are envisaged for the high-quality organization of recreation, health improvement and employment of children during the summer period, including the preparation of health resorts. Corresponding decisions were also made locally. In the summer period of 2021, it was planned to improve the health of 39,410 children.
Prosecutors studied the readiness passports of health resorts, and conducted their selective visits. Specialists from territorial bodies of sanitary-epidemiological and fire supervision were involved in raid activities.
Not all violations of sanitary-hygienic, fire safety requirements, and safety requirements that existed at the time of acceptance were eliminated within the deadlines specified in the recommendations of the relevant services (health resorts based on the educational institution "Bigosovskaya Secondary School of the Verkhnedvinsk District", SU "Verkhnedvinsk Children and Youth Sports School", "Niva" sports and health camp of the Tolochin District).
Violations were identified in the organization of food and storage of food products, as well as other violations of sanitary-hygienic norms and rules in health institutions of Gorodok, Beshenkovichi, and Miory districts.
The state of fire safety in children's health resorts was criticized.
Prosecutors analyzed the safety of various types of attractions (inflatable, mechanical, water, stationary) with constant children's visits. A number of violations of technical safety regulations and rules in the operation of inflatable playground equipment were identified (Vitebsk and other districts).
The issue of ensuring children's safety on playgrounds in populated areas traditionally remains problematic.
Facts of improper maintenance of children's playgrounds, their sanitary and technical condition were established in Vitebsk, Dokshitsy, Lepel, Liozno, Tolochin, Chashniki districts.
This year, in
Vitebsk region has seen an increase in child fatalities from external causes.For reference: currently, 13 children have died as a result of fatal injuries (in the same period of 2020 – 7), including 6 (2) children who drowned, 4 (0) in road traffic accidents, 1 (1) by suicide, 1 (0) from mechanical self-harm with an instrument, and 1 (1) from violent acts.
To improve efforts in preventing child fatalities, back in 2015, by the protocol of an interdepartmental meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, the chairpersons of executive committees were instructed to develop regional passports of potentially dangerous facilities for children and to designate individuals responsible for ensuring safety at such facilities.
As inspections have shown, in several regions of the oblast, local executive and administrative bodies are not taking exhaustive measures to ensure child safety.
147 potentially dangerous facilities were inspected, 82 of which were water-related. For the identified violations of the law, regional prosecutors issued 2 submissions and 12 orders.
In total, during the current summer period, district prosecutors have issued 15 submissions and 24 orders in connection with identified violations of legislation on the safety of children's life and health, 2 officials have been brought to administrative responsibility, and 3 information memos have been sent to local authorities.
The Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office has sent an information memo to the Regional Executive Committee, proposing specific measures to establish proper order in the sphere of children's life and health safety.
The results of the review are under the prosecutor's supervision.
Assistant Prosecutor of Vitebsk Region
Irina Tarasevich