Every day, Ukrainian children suffer from the consequences of the war, which destroys their childhood, forces them to live in fear and adapt to the harsh reality. However, it is not only hostilities that take the lives of young Ukrainians. They become victims of accidents that could have been prevented. The story that happened in the Kherson Region is another tragic reminder of how important adult vigilance is.
Tragedy on the Ingulets River
On February 13, a terrible event took place in the Veliko Oleksandriv community of the Kherson region, which took the lives of three children. About this reported Oleksandr Prokudin, head of Kherson OVA.
A group of teenagers – 5 children – stepped onto the thin ice of a frozen river, unaware of the mortal danger. The ice could not support the weight of the children, and they went under the water. A 16-year-old girl tried to pull the children out of the water, but she herself ended up under the ice. Fortunately, the tragedy was noticed by a local resident who rushed to help and was able to save two girls – a 16-year-old and a 12-year-old. They reached the shore, but suffered hypothermia. But three others – a 9-year-old boy, a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl – died in the cold waters of Ingulets.
The search and rescue operation lasted two days. Only on February 15 was it possible to find the body of the last missing teenager. Dozens of rescuers, special equipment and even underwater drones were involved in the operation, but it was impossible to bring the children back to life.
Why is this happening?
Thin ice, open bodies of water, dangerous fun – children are often unaware of the danger, and adults do not always have time to prevent tragedies. Winter in Ukraine is unstable, and frozen bodies of water do not always have solid ice, making them a death trap. But the main reason for such cases is insufficient awareness of children about safety rules and neglect by adults.
This is not the first and, unfortunately, not the last case when children die on the water, in winter or summer. Every year, the statistics of rescuers record dozens of deaths due to carelessness in water bodies.
How to prevent such tragedies
This tragedy cannot be undone, but we can do everything we can to prevent it from happening again. Here are some basic tips that will help parents protect their children from danger:
- Tell children about the danger. Explain that going out on the ice unaccompanied by adults is strictly prohibited, even if it seems to be solid. Teach them to recognize dangerous places – thin or cracked ice, areas near currents or sinkholes.
- Watch where the children are walking. Parents often underestimate how risky children’s games can be. If there is a body of water nearby, make sure the child knows that stepping onto the ice is deadly.
- Explain what to do in case of danger. Teach children not to panic if they fall under the ice. Tell them that you need to spread your arms wide on the surface so as not to go under the water, and try to get out with your chest forward.
- Supervise teenagers. Older children often underestimate the risks and go for dangerous experiments. It is important to talk to them about the possible consequences so that they do not seek adventure where tragedy awaits them.
- React quickly. If you witness someone falling under the ice, do not immediately run to help – the ice may not be able to withstand you either. Use long objects (rope, board, belt) and immediately call rescuers.
Children’s lives are the most valuable thing we have. Their safety depends not only on themselves, but also on the responsibility of parents, teachers and society as a whole. Vigilance, caution and knowledge of safety rules can save lives. Let this tragedy be a lesson for everyone, so that no other family loses their child due to neglect of elementary rules.
