World drowning prevention day 2023: teaching water safety will save lives
By Vera Fon
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death globally for children and young people aged 1-24. Drowning is among the three leading causes of unintentional injury death and accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths.
According to the United Nations, an estimated 236,000 people drown every year, making drowning a major public health problem worldwide.
World drowning prevention day, declared in April 2021 by General Assembly is held annually on July 25.
This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to offer life-saving solutions to prevent it.
All stakeholders, governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector and individuals have been urged to mark world drowning prevention day by highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated and multi-sectoral action on proven measures.
Some of these methods include installing barriers controlling access to water, providing safe places away from water, teaching children and adults swimming, water safety and rescue skills; training bystanders in safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations and improving flood risk management.
The UN states that the global burden of deaths from drowning is felt in all economic regions. However, low and middle-income countries account for 90% of unintentional drowning deaths.
