81 people drowned last week in Belarus because of abnormally hot weather, four children among them. 57 people died when swimming. The last time, such a large number of drowned were recorded in 1999, reported Belarusian republican water life saving society (OSVOD).
According to OSVOD, one of the main causes of tragedies continues to be swimming in a state of intoxication, as well as in prohibited areas. Since the beginning of 2010, in Belarus there drowned more than 900 people, including 66 minors. At the same time, OSVOD employees managed to save 691 people during this period, including 143 children, reported in Belarusian Interior Ministry.
OSVOD chairman, Anatoly Golub, believes that to resolve the problems life saving society should expand the interaction with internal affairs bodies, sanitary services and local authorities. In order to reduce the number of people’s deaths on unequipped beaches they should step up preventive activities, not forgetting that majority of dead when swimming were intoxicated, OSVOD chair stated.
Thus, Grodno OSVOD decided to fight drunken bathers using boards of shame. In addition to preventive posters about the danger of swimming when drunk, they started posting photos of public order’s violators at the stands of recreation areas.
