Neptune Public Patrol executes a search operation at Zarechye's pontoon bridge
In the sun-soaked city of Syktyvkar, summer days are filled with the sounds of laughter and splashes as residents enjoy the water. To ensure the safety of these revellers, daily water safety patrols are conducted in various locations, including Kirul, Zarechye, abandoned piers, near bridges, on beaches, and at lakes.
These patrols, a regular feature in Russian cities, are organised by local authorities and emergency services. Their primary goal is to monitor public water bodies, reduce accidents, and promote safety among residents, particularly the youth. The patrols involve regular inspections, rescue readiness, and educational outreach programs aimed at raising awareness about drowning prevention and safe behaviour around water.
Recently, a new addition to the patrol group is Yevgeny Napalkov, the head of the "Worthy Generation" patriotic education association. Napalkov believes it's crucial to instil love for the Motherland in young people while also making them aware of their responsibility for their own and others' safety.
Napalkov's participation in the "Neptune" patrol is seen as a practical lesson in civic responsibility and a way to engage young people in socially significant activities. Today's patrol, which took place near the ponton bridge in Zarechye, marked Napalkov's first public patrol. However, he expressed his readiness to continue this work.
Taissia Rocheva, the director of Syktyvkar's Youth Center, also participated in today's patrol. For Rocheva, public patrols are a regular activity for the Youth Center to ensure the safety of young people during the summer. She considers these patrols an essential tool for civic education.
Educators from 37 city schools, active parents, representatives of youth public associations, and volunteers also participate in these patrols. Since the start of the summer season, volunteers in Syktyvkar have conducted over 1,500 preventive talks about water safety rules, precautions, and the dangers of swimming in unguarded areas. Over 2,500 brochures and leaflets about water safety have been distributed by volunteers.
The importance of civic education and responsibility for safety is emphasized by both Taissia Rocheva and Yevgeny Napalkov. They believe that involving young people in patrols is a way to provide real help in preventing water accidents and is an important tool for their civic education.
The patrols will continue in Syktyvkar and Ejva on a daily basis until the end of the swimming season. For authoritative and up-to-date information about the patrols in Syktyvkar for 2025, contacting the Syktyvkar municipal administration, local emergency services, or the regional Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) would be recommended.
- Yevgeny Napalkov, the head of the "Worthy Generation" patriotic education association, believes engaging young people in activities like the "Neptune" patrol not only instils love for the Motherland but also makes them aware of their responsibility for their own and others' safety, which can be considered a crucial aspect of their home-and-garden lifestyle.
- Taissia Rocheva, the director of Syktyvkar's Youth Center, considers public patrols, including those focusing on water safety, an essential part of her organization's mission to ensure the safety of young people during summer, and a valuable tool for civic education, reflecting the importance of such initiatives in shaping the lifestyle and well-being of the city's residents.
