Shaanxi Ankang Hanjiang Volunteer Lifesaving Federation female volunteers protect the safety of the river

China News Service, Ankang, Shaanxi, September 23 (Reporter Li Yifan) In Ankang City in southern Shaanxi, the rolling Han River passes through the city, and the clear water of the river nourishes this land.

A reporter from China News Network recently visited Ankang City and learned that there is a private water lifesaving volunteer team on the bank of the Hanjiang River that is spontaneously assembled by swimming enthusiasts - the Hanjiang Volunteer Lifesaving Federation of Hanbin District, Ankang City (hereinafter referred to as the "Lifesaving Federation"). There are 36 female volunteers in the team. They walk side by side with male volunteers, fight the river current to save lives, and run through the streets to spread safety concepts. With the unique courage and delicacy of women, they guard the peace of the river and the lights of thousands of homes.

On September 22, members of the Hanjiang Volunteer Lifesaving Federation of Hanbin District, Ankang City lined up neatly at the Ankang Hanjiang Flood Control Memorial Hall. Photo by Li Yifan

Under the shining light of the Han River, there is danger hidden. "If I encounter someone falling into the water again, I will definitely save him." This is the sentiment of Zhang Hong, vice president of the Life Saving Federation. The 58-year-old joined the team in 2016 and has been watching along the river for ten years. She has rescued more than 20 people in distress from the hands of death. She is affectionately called "the first female life-saving person" by the locals.

Every rescue operation on the river is a close game with death. An angler accidentally fell into the water. Zhang Hong jumped into the cold river without taking off his coat. Faced with a woman who was about to jump off the bridge and commit suicide, she hugged her tightly with her body hanging on the edge of the bridge, almost falling into the river together... Faced with life and death dangers several times, she never changed her original intention to save people. Zhang Hong became more proactive and continued to learn new rescue techniques through the Internet and other resources, and continued to take root in the rescue front line.

On September 22, a scene in Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, with the Han River passing through the city. Photo by Li Yifan

"As a swimming enthusiast, I often went to the river to swim after I retired. I have witnessed many thrilling moments and tragedies of sudden loss of life. I was very sad. So I thought about doing my best to do some practical things to save lives." Xiang Changhua, chairman of the Women's Federation of the Life Saving Federation, said. On a rainy day in October 2024, a junior high school student jumped into the river from the fifth pier of the Han River Bridge. Xiang Changhua and her husband immediately rushed into the river, tried their best to rescue the boy and moved him to gentle waters, successfully rescuing the child.

Since the establishment of the Life Saving Federation, female volunteers have rushed to the front line of rescue, participating in 117 voluntary rescue operations and saving 127 precious lives; they have cooperated with the public security and emergency departments in handling various types of rescues more than 800 times. Drowning accidents in the Ankang-Hanbin section of the Han River have dropped from an average of 40 per year before the establishment of the association to 5 to 6 per year, a drop of more than 90%. Behind the heavy numbers are the countless days and nights of volunteers’ perseverance and desperate efforts.

"In the face of the risk of drowning, we have always put prevention first and always adhere to the concept that prevention is greater than rescue. Sometimes, maybe if we step forward and give advice, we can avoid accidents." Huang Zhixia, a female lifeguard, said. Therefore, in addition to rescuing, female lifeguards also serve as "persuaders" on the river bank. During periods when drowning is most common, they often patrol along the river in the sweltering heat. On river beaches, bridge piers, backwater bays and other areas, when they encounter people, especially children, swimming privately or playing in the water, they patiently explain the dangers of underwater undercurrents and discourage dangerous wading behaviors.

On September 22, the Hanjiang Volunteer Lifesaving Federation of Hanbin District, Ankang City conducted a rescue drill. Photo by Li Yifan

In recent years, the Life Saving Federation has actively responded to the calls of the Women's Federation of Ankang City and Hanbin District, fully transformed the professional water rescue force into safety education resources, and transformed into a "preacher", going deep into the campus to carry out voluntary publicity on drowning prevention, emergency first aid and parent-child safety. So far, it has entered more than 100 schools, benefiting more than 40,000 children and families, and protecting the lives of children and adolescents with professional volunteer services.

In addition to their daily work, the female volunteers also transformed into "river beauticians", holding clips and garbage bags, picking up plastic bottles, plastic bags and other domestic garbage along the river bank. They have been carrying out long-term environmental improvement work on the river bank, and have cleared more than 120 tons of garbage from the canal. They use their hands to protect the clear water flowing eastward. (over)