【Haichuan Teahouse】Stay away from the fountain – danger ahead!

Thread Content

Shared from the internet: Due to the prolonged hot weather, the fountains in various summer parks have become places where children can cool off. Recently, reader Mr. Ma noticed at the fountain in the southern area of Tianfu Plaza in Sanlitun that many children were playing around in the fountain. “Some mischievous children took off their shoes and deliberately stepped on the fountain’s spout; they didn’t realize that it was very dangerous to do so. ”　　Outdoor fountains are not only a scenic sight but also bring a touch of coolness to the hot summer months. However, there are also many hidden risks involved. Reviewing recent reports, in the Jinhui Huafu residential complex in Fuqing City, Fujian Province, three children died tragically after apparently getting an electric shock while playing near a pool ； In a residential complex in Jinan, Shandong Province, two 8-year-old boys were playing by catching fish in a fountain; one of them apparently suffered an electric shock and collapsed in the water, dying despite attempts to save him. It can be seen that outdoor fountains can also be places full of hidden dangers. 　　Regarding the safety hazards involved, one is the damage caused by water pressure. It is reported that fountains are generally divided into low-pressure fountains and high-pressure fountains. The pressure of a low-pressure fountain is 1 to 2 kilograms, and the spray height is generally three to four meters. As for high-pressure fountains, the water pressure is usually between 10 and 15 kilograms, and their spray height can reach fifty to sixty meters. It is not difficult to imagine that if someone is standing above, the human body could be injured by the impact of the water jet, and for children, the harm caused is even greater. 　　Secondly, the risks caused by electrical leakage. Since the design of fountains, lighting, etc. requires electricity, if there is a leakage in the wires or the pipes break, the water can also become electrified, posing a risk of electric shock to people. Even if the wires in the fountain are buried underground and do not pass through the water, it is still impossible to completely avoid having wires in the water, so the risk cannot be eliminated 100%. Therefore, great caution must be exercised when playing around outdoor fountains. 　　Three types of harm caused to the human body. On the one hand, the water in fountains is recycled, so it’s inevitable that some debris will end up in it, which can lead to the growth of bacteria and microorganisms and pose a risk to human health ； On the other hand, it can also easily lead to slips. Additionally, some children, out of curiosity, put their fingers into the fountain’s outlets, and there is a high risk that their fingers could get stuck there ； Furthermore, when children play with water, there is a risk of injury from accidental ingestion, and so on. So, although fountains are fun, one shouldn’t get too close to them. 　　A review of media reports shows that incidents of outdoor fountains injuring people occur every year, and this issue requires serious attention. First, in terms of construction, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the provisions of the \"Technical Specifications for Fountains and Landscape Engineering\" in order to lay a solid foundation for safety ； Secondly, proper safety management and maintenance are necessary; for example, efforts should be made in terms of safety warnings, supervision, and knowledge dissemination ； Third, parents must fulfill their guardianship responsibilities to prevent their children from causing harm to themselves due to their ignorance and restlessness. 　　Safety is no trivial matter; the various risks hidden in outdoor fountains in plazas are, at their core, also safety vulnerabilities. It is also necessary for the relevant departments to conduct regular safety inspections in order to address any gaps in water quality, safety management, and infrastructure; they should not wait until an accident occurs before taking action to fix these issues. In short, by working together, we must ensure the safety of these outdoor fountains and provide a safe place for the public to gather.