The call on World Drowning Day outlines actions individuals, groups and governments can take, and highlights initiatives already taken in a number of countries.
The majority of drowning deaths, more than 90%, occur in low and middle income countries, with Children under the age of five are most at risk.
Most deaths are preventable
These deaths are often associated with daily activities, such as bathing, fetching water for the family, traveling on a boat or ferry, and fishing. The impact of monsoons and other seasonal or extreme weather events is also a frequent cause.
“Every year, around the world, hundreds of thousands of people drown. Most of these deaths are preventable through low-cost, evidence-based solutions,” speak Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO General manager.
To celebrate World Drowning Prevention Day, cities around the world are lighting up some of their prominent landmarks in blue.
WHO has its headquarters in Geneva, and the Jet d’Eau in Lake Geneva – one of the most popular attractions in the Swiss city – will be illuminated in blue on Monday night.
Focus on solutions
The UN health body works with partners, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Royal National Rescue Foundation (RNLI) in the UK and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, to raise awareness. on drowning prevention.
The founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, describes drowning as a global public health challenge.
“In many cases, We know what works to prevent drowning. We have developed tools and guidelines to help governments implement solutions – and if we do more together, we can actually save thousands of lives,“Mr. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries.
WHO has recommended six evidence-based measures to prevent drowning, including installing barriers to control access to water and training those around in safe rescue and resuscitation techniques.
School-age children should also be taught basic swimming and water safety skills, while boys and girls should be provided with supervised day care.
Other measures call for the establishment and enforcement of safe sailing practices, shipping and ferry regulations, and improved flood risk management.
© Unsplash / Kevin Paes
Formal swimming classes can reduce the risk of drowning.
Share and support
As part of the incoming call “do one thing”, individuals are encouraged to share advice on drowning prevention and water safety with their family, friends and colleagues. They are also encouraged Sign up for swimming or water safety classesor to support local charities or organizations working on drowning prevention.
Meanwhile, groups can do their part, for example by organizing public events to sharing water safety information or launch water safety campaigns.
WHO also advocates action at the government level, including develop or publish new drowning prevention policies, legislation or investmentsand support drowning prevention programswhether domestic or international.
Commitment from countries
The UN agency and partners are assisting countries in the design and implementation of new prevention initiatives.
Bangladesh is among the countries that have committed to implementing drowning prevention programs, and authorities there have begun a three-year plan to reduce child drowning.
As part of the program, the government will take over 2,500 nurseries founded and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies over the past decade. Authorities will expand the program by adding 5,500 daycares to provide supervision for 200,000 children between the ages of one and five.
Other countries that have received support for drowning prevention initiatives include Vietnam, Uganda and Ghana.
