Stay Safe and Enjoy Water Activities During the Summer!

As the summer vacation season begins, the risk of water-related accidents increases. To ensure the safety of residents during water acti...

As the summer vacation season begins, the risk of water-related accidents increases. To ensure the safety of residents during water activities, Gyeonggi Province is working in cooperation with cities and counties to promote a comprehensive water safety management plan.

Based on the plan, Gyeonggi Province is emphasizing accident prevention during summer water activities and has reviewed water safety accident prevention guidelines and response measures.

According to data released by the National Fire Agency in 2022, there were 147 domestic fatalities due to water-related accidents in the preceding five years, with more than three times the number of incidents occurring in rivers and valleys (98 deaths) compared to beaches (27 deaths).

This highlights the higher risks associated with water activities in rivers and valleys.

In response, the province held the '2023 Water Safety Management Comprehensive Strategy Video Conference' on August 6 for discussions on safety measures for visitors to rivers, valleys and lakes during the summer vacation season. Participants shared comprehensive plans for water safety management during summer water activities and inspections of water facilities, and also discussed ways to promote cooperation in preventing water-related accidents.

Concrete measures include continuous management and inspection of various safety installations, such as on-site water activity guidance. Additionally, water safety management personnel will be deployed with a focus on accident-prone areas so as to prevent water-related accidents.

The province also plans to undertake patrols and guidance activities in water activity areas to encourage safety for tourists.

Of particular note, until the end of August, 'Emergency Water Safety Duty Teams for Summer Water Activities' will be established and operated by each city and county to strengthen water safety management.

In conjunction with the water safety management comprehensive strategy, Gyeonggi Province will also operate the '119 Citizen Water Rescue Team' to ensure the safety of its residents during the summer.

The Gyeonggi Northern Fire and Disaster Headquarters will deploy the '119 Citizen Water Rescue Team' – composed of voluntary firefighters, local residents, and professional scuba diving association members – to 20 risk areas in the province by August 31. The team, comprising a total of 65 members, will be dispersed to four fire station jurisdictions, including the cities of Namyangju and Pocheon, as well as the counties of Gapyeong and Yeoncheon, which include areas that have previously experienced accidents, as well as major water activity locations.

The team will perform various tasks, including managing danger zone control lines for water accident prevention, conducting water area patrols to prevent accidents and save lives, providing emergency care to accident victims, and searching for missing persons.

Before entering the water, be sure to know and follow the 'Water Activity Safety Rules'! Water accidents happen unexpectedly. To prevent them and ensure a safe water experience, it's essential to create a safe water activity environment and make efforts to follow safety rules on your own.

General rules to follow before engaging in water activities:
- Always warm up before entering the water! Life jackets are essential!
- Wet the body starting with extremities far from the heart (legs → arms → face → chest) before immersing in water.
- Children should always be accompanied by guardians during water activities.
- Check water depth and temperature before entering.
- No jumping, diving, or reckless behavior in the water.
- When visiting rivers or streams, use the 'Lifeguard Safety Map' app to check safe water activity locations in advance.
- Install the Hae Road app, which automatically sends location coordinates when reporting an emergency.
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol.
- Check the weather forecast in advance. Don't enter the water if rain is expected.
- Follow the instructions of safety personnel while enjoying water activities within safe areas.

In case of a water accident:
- If you spot someone in distress, take the following actions:
1. Shout for help to alert others.
2. Call 119 (emergency number) immediately.
3. Use nearby rescue equipment or buoyant objects if available, and observe the person's condition calmly.
4. Provide information to rescue personnel.

- If rescue is required, avoid jumping into the water recklessly; instead, try to use nearby objects or floating items to effect a rescue.
- Provide emergency treatment, such as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or CPR, when rescuing someone from the water.
- It's essential to learn 'survival swimming' as a precaution.

Enjoying water activities is great, but coming back safely is the most important! So remember the water activity safety rules and have a fun-filled summer vacation. 😎

For the convenience of foreigners and those curious about Korea, Gyeonggi Province publishes blog articles on various topics every week. Check out the Gyeonggi Province Blog for more information on various aspects of Korea ! https://www.gyeonggido-korea.com/