The World Health Organization (WHO) state the following key facts in relation to the global drowning problem:
- There are around 300,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide.
- Drowning disproportionately impacts children and young people. Children aged under 5 years account for nearly a quarter of all drowning deaths.
- Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1–4 years and the third leading cause of death for children aged 5–14 years.
- Ninety-two percent of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- Global estimates may significantly underestimate the actual public health problem related to drowning.
- Children, males and individuals with increased access to water are most at risk of drowning.
- Resolutions endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly (2021) and the World Health Assembly (2023) provide a roadmap for global drowning prevention efforts.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted its first ever United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention in 2021, creating a global framework for drowning prevention that all 194 Member States endorsed. The Report offers a roadmap for action, supported by available technical guidance from WHO and opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration between countries. It also proclaimed 25 July each year as World Drowning Prevention Day.
In 2023, the World Health Assembly, taking action from the UNGA Resolution, adopted its own resolution Accelerating action on global drowning prevention. Through the Resolution, WHO committed to establishing a Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention with organizations of the UN system, international development partners and NGOs.
The 2024 Global status report on drowning prevention details the scale of global drowning fatalities, and progress made in advancing strategies and actions to reduce drowning around the world. The report presents a benchmark against which to track drowning prevention progress over time – at global, regional and national levels – and to galvanize meaningful multisectoral collaboration within governments, organizations, societies and across the United Nations.
Prevention is essential, as when someone starts to drown, the outcome is often fatal. Survival usually depends on the speed of removal from the water and how quickly proper resuscitation can take place. So embedding basic swimming and lifesaving education, skills and leadership can make a real difference to communities around the world.
The Royal Life Saving Society supports the ten actions to prevent drowning outlined in the World Health Organisation’s 2014 Global Report on Drowning, both community based action and effective policies and legislation. Drowning prevention is a multi-sectoral issue, with much to be gained from working together with organisations across the health, education and governmental sectors in all countries.
As an accredited organisation with the Commonwealth Secretariat, RLSS is well placed to take a leading and partnership role in downing prevention efforts across the Commonwealth, and is committed to working with other Commonwealth organisations to help reduce the terrible toll of death by drowning around the world.
