WHILE many people in China are deeply concerned about the flooding in Henan Province, a question has been put forward by many parents: how to help children deal with emergencies like flooding and drowning?

According to recent reports, Shenzhen’s 120 emergency center said within one week it got nine calls of drowning and four of the victims were children.

Swimming is undoubtedly a favorable outdoor game in the summer vacation. It can not only relieve the summer heat, but also bring lots of fun. How should one deal with possible dangers while in the water? Many parents turned to summer camps that can help students deal with emergencies.

Summer camps at Mission Hills in Longhua District opened courses in safety education such as underwater first aid training and firefighting skill training.

At one camp, the young members listened carefully to the coach’s explanation on how to give first aid to drowning people. During the one-on-one practice, the children adjusted the posture of the “drowning person,” opened the airway, and then implemented a series of first aid techniques such as chest compression.

In addition to first aid skills training, the camps also provide special military training like jungle clearance and shield exercises. The courses also include projects improving physical strength and willpower, such as breaking through mud pits, carrying logs and rolling tires.

“My favorite project is to climb through the mud pit. That feeling is really like a soldier!” a member surnamed Liu said. He has participated in the camps for five consecutive years.

One of the camp organizers said:“In the face of sudden emergencies, if you can’t respond calmly, no matter how perfect your first aid skills are, they can’t be applied smoothly. Therefore, our camps not only provide physical training, but also focus on training children’s psychological quality.”

The organizers said they also provide camps featuring unmanned helicopters and outer space exploration.

(Windy Shao)