Briefing on sanitary-epidemiological situation and compliance with safety measures during summer held at Tatarstan Government House

On 4 August, speaking at a briefing on sanitary-epidemiological situation and compliance with safety measures during summer held at Tatarstan Government House, the regional Healthcare Minister Almir Abashev said: “First of all I would like to attract attention of those who are going to resorts, riversides and beaches in summer as there are two factors hazardous for a man. First of all it is insolation as the sun can damage the skin and one can get heatstroke. Second, it is essential to carefully select swimming locations authorized by local power bodies.”

 The Minister specifically addressed the issue of children’s injuries and cited data from the traffic police. Thus he informed that during six months of the current year there were 206 car accidents involving children, six of whom died and 227 injured.

Another summer hazard is open windows fitted with mosquito nets. “A child has a false sense of support, leans against the mosquito net and falls down from the window,” Almir Abashev emphasized.

He also informed that in summer children are also admitted to hospitals with poisoning and suffocation – when toddlers accidentally swallow various objects – as well as with electrical injuries and burns sustained when trying to cook food over a campfire.

Almir Abashev also reminded that summer is nice time to pass on a medical  checkup and about the coming flu season and added that it is better to plan a flu shot in advance.

Speaking about hazards at the beaches, the Deputy Head of the Directorate of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) for Tatarstan Marina Prokofyeva informed: “In 2026 it was planned to open 25 beaches in 17 regions and cities of the republic. I would like to remind that the use of a water body for swimming is permitted only if a sanitary-epidemiological conclusion has been obtained. Every year before the beginning of the swimming season our Directorate issues warnings regarding the inadmissibility of using beaches without this document. As of today 19 beaches of the republic have this permission.” She also told about beaches which have got the negative sanitary-epidemiological conclusion.

On top of that Marina Prokofyeva recommended buying melons and watermelons only at authorized retail outlets to prevent food poisoning and added: “You should strictly avoid buying melons or watermelons sold in pieces as harmful bacteria quickly accumulate at the cut surfaces.”

The Head of the Human safety on Water Bodies of the Main Directorate of the Russian Emergencies Ministry for Tatarstan Regina Gayazova noted that 41 people have already died in rivers and lakes of the republic since the beginning of the current year, 28 of them – having drowned during the swimming season and also informed about cases of small boats breaking rules for operating small crafts.