Republican State-Public Association «Belarusian Republican Society for Water Rescue» (OSVOD)

The subject and purpose of the activities of OSVOD, in accordance with the Charter, is to reduce the likelihood of deaths on the waters of the Republic of Belarus. In its activities, OSVOD is guided by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus № 175 of June 19, 2023, the Charter of OSVOD, the Rules for the Protection of Human Life on the Waters, approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus № 543 of August 18, 2023.

The purpose of the OSVOD activities is to implement the following state-significant tasks:

• uniting the efforts of citizens to protect people's lives on the waters;

• protection of life, including rescue of people on the water;

• prevention of accidents, including loss of life, on water;

• carrying out emergency rescue, rescue and search operations on water, providing assistance to emergency response agencies and units in carrying out the said operations;

• training the population in swimming skills, rescue techniques and providing first aid to persons in distress on the water.

In accordance with paragraph 9 of the OSVOD Charter, approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus № 175 of June 19, 2023, the general coordination of the activities of OSVOD is carried out by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations, within the limits of its competence, coordinates the activities of the OSVOD to protect human life and prevent accidents on water, during emergency rescue, rescue and search operations on water, as well as the diving and rescue service of this association.

The Postavy district organization of the Russian Public Organization OSVOD consists of three divisions:

1. Postavy rescue station, located at the address: Postavy, Gagarin Street, 77. The rescue station has divers, motormen, rescue sailors, and medical workers on staff. The rescue station's coverage area includes the Myadelka River, located within the city of Postavy between the Sovetsky Lane and Krasnoarmeyskaya Street bridges, including the beach located on the territory of the city park. The rescue station is on duty around the clock. The duty officer's phone number for the rescue station is 20485.

2. Seasonal rescue post located on Lake Zadevskoe in the area of ​​Zelenaya Street, Postavy.

3. Seasonal rescue post located on Lake Dubok.

The rescue posts are equipped with rowboats and all necessary rescue equipment. In the summer of 2023, seasonal rescue posts operated from May 15 to September 30.

According to the decision of the Postavy District Executive Committee dated April 30, 2024 № 532, places of mass recreation on water bodies during the 2024 swimming season will operate from May 4, 2024, from 10:00 to 22:00.

According to the decision of the Postavy District Executive Committee №. 380 dated 19.04.2019, on the territory of the city of Postavy and the Postavy District, 4 beaches located on the following water bodies are recognized as places of mass recreation for citizens near the water:

• Lake Beloe;

• Lake Dubok;

• Lake Zadevskoe - from the side of Zelenaya Street in the city of Postavy;

• Myadelka River – on the territory of the city park.

By the decision of the Postavy District Executive Committee dated May 20, 2016 № 498 “On the definition of places prohibited for swimming in the territory of the Postavy District”, the following places were defined where swimming is prohibited:

• melioration and technical channels;

• ponds;

• ponds-diggings;

• flooded quarries;

• artificial fire reservoirs;

• treatment facilities;

• backwaters;

• locations of dams, locks, bridges, embankments and other hydraulic structures.