Water Activity Season Approaches ... Changwon Coast Guard Gifts Life Jackets, Urges "Wear Them"

Local Organizations and Companies Donate Life Jackets for a Safe Summer

"Like this, you put your legs in first and then slip your arms through."

On the 18th, the gymnasium at Masanhappo Elementary School in Changwon, Gyeongnam, was filled with voices teaching "how to wear a life jacket."

On this day, Changwon Coast Guard held the Neulbom School Coastal Safety Class to prevent water-related accidents during the summer and presented participating students with life jackets.

Kim Youngchul, chief of Changwon Coast Guard, is saluting face-to-face after putting a life jacket on a Masanhappo Elementary School student. Photo by Lee Seryeong

The life jackets gifted by Changwon Coast Guard were donated by organizations, local companies, and groups participating in the life jacket campaign led by the Coast Guard, totaling around 2,500 so far.

The National Intelligence Service, Changwon Coast Guard Policy Advisory Committee, Busan Port Authority, Korea Oil Pipeline Corporation Gyeongnam Branch, Korea National Oil Corporation Geoje Branch, Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muhak, Doosan Enerbility, Green Industry, Korea Yanase, Jungwoo Engineering, DL D&I Hanla, DL E&C, and K Shipbuilding?13 organizations in total?generously contributed.

The Coast Guard character Haenuri is giving a life jacket to a student from Masanhappo Elementary School and they are touching hands.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Representatives from these organizations participated in the Coastal Safety Class, helping the children put on life jackets and teaching them how to wear them properly.

"Leg straps first, then arms through. That's right, pull the straps like this so it fits snugly. Make sure you wear it like this when you go swimming during summer break, okay?"

Kneeling down to meet the children's eyes, the adults gave careful instructions, and the Masanhappo Elementary students nodded or high-fived in response, answering loudly.

The life jackets the children received were decorated with National Intelligence Service stickers promoting the 111 security hotline for reporting espionage, terrorism, international crime, industrial espionage, and cyber threats, as well as Coast Guard badges.

Students of Masanhappo Elementary School in Changwon, Gyeongnam, raise their hands to answer during the coastal safety class at the Changwon Coast Guard Neulbom School.
Photo by Lee Seryung

After distributing the life jackets, Sergeant Bae Daehan, the lead instructor for the Neulbom School Coastal Safety Class, began his lecture using videos and photos.

Topics included: ▲Examples of coastal safety accidents ▲Water safety rules ▲How to wear a life jacket ▲CPR ▲Survival swimming techniques, along with hands-on experience for the students.

On this day, Chief Kim Youngcheol said, "In the past three years, there have been 21 fatalities at beaches and breakwaters within the Changwon Coast Guard's jurisdiction, and 19 of them were not wearing life jackets. Noting this, we are focusing our life jacket campaign on students first," he told attending teachers and officials.

He then advised the children, "Always wear your life jacket when swimming and have a safe and enjoyable summer vacation."

Choi Jaeho, President of the Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Muhak, said, "I am here today representing local businesspeople for the life jacket campaign. Last year, there were unfortunate deaths due to water accidents, and I joined this year hoping there will be none."

Students of Masanhappo Elementary School in Changwon, Gyeongnam are learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Kim, a first grader at Happo Elementary, said, "I learned for the first time that you have to fasten the leg straps when wearing a life jacket. I will wear it just like I learned today when I go swimming with my family."

The principal of Happo Elementary said, "It was a valuable time for students to receive marine safety education and raise awareness about water safety before summer break."

Changwon Coast Guard will continue the Neulbom School Coastal Safety Class and is also conducting summer vacation water safety education using a metaverse space developed for hands-on learning through the Gyeongnam Office of Education's iBook platform. Students who complete the summer water safety education will also receive life jackets.

Chief Kim said, "A life jacket is the minimum means of survival until the Coast Guard arrives in a marine accident. Our Coast Guard will do our utmost to rescue people quickly and protect lives in any emergency situation."

Students from Masanhappo Elementary School and officials participating in the Changwon Coast Guard Neulbom School Coastal Safety Class are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Changwon Coast Guard Station

Neulbom School is a comprehensive education program that supports student growth and development by connecting various educational resources from schools and the local community outside of regular classes, integrating traditional elementary after-school classes and care services.

The Gyeongnam Office of Education has operated the Neulbom integrated care center since 2021 and began running the Gyeongnam-style Neulbom School this year. In the first semester, it targeted 159 schools in the province and plans to expand to all elementary schools in the second semester.

For more information on applying for the Changwon Coast Guard Coastal Safety Class, contact the Marine Safety Division at Changwon Coast Guard.