Even in rural households that have one or both the parents, children cannot be taken proper care of because elders are busy working in the fields. In fact, it is not uncommon to see children taking care of their younger siblings. But the elder brothers and sisters are not always able to protect their siblings from harm because they themselves are minors.

The drastic social transformation that has taken place in the past years has increased the hazards children in rural areas face. As an increasing number of young parents migrate to cities, "left-behind children" under grandparents' care face greater danger.

Even in urban areas, migrant workers' children account for the majority of drowning deaths because their parents are too busy trying to make ends meet and thus cannot take good care of their offspring. When schools are open, these children are supervised and protected by teaching and non-teaching staff. But during summer holidays, they are free most of the time to do whatever they like, which in some cases leads to tragedies.

Like all accidents, drowning too is preventable. Although parents are basically responsible for protecting their children from danger, migrant parents don't have enough time to do so. The onus is thus on society (especially government departments) to help these parents protect their offspring.

WHO started a drowning prevention pilot program in the Philippines recently, which focuses on building barriers and fences around water bodies to prevent children from venturing or falling into the water. This scheme could be adopted in many rural areas in China. In fact, Chinese government officials should fence off all the water bodies that are considered unsafe and post guards at vantage points to ensure that children don't venture into them.

Also, village and rural communities should appoint volunteers to act as outdoor guardians of "left-behind children" during summer vacations and help prevent tragedies like drowning.

The author is a writer with China Daily.

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