Every year hundreds of thousands of people die from drowning worldwide, but, according to the United Nations, many incidents could have been prevented.

World Drowning Prevention Day is marked each year on July 25 to increase awareness about preventative and safety measures, as well as highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities.

According to the World Health Organization, drowning claims the lives of at least 236,000 people each year, ranking among the 10 leading causes of death for individuals aged one to 24. 

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In the UK, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is calling on people to respect the water and be aware of their surroundings. 

Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said, "Every year, about half of those who drown never had any intention of getting wet. Last year, the RNLI attended 10,000 incidents, and it's important to respect the water everyday, and take heed of important safety messages."

Avoiding the water is the best way to prevent any incidents from occurring, but if you find yourself in difficulty in the water try to float and do the following:

• tilt your head back with ears submerged

• relax and try to control your breathing

• use your hands to help you stay afloat

World Drowning Prevention Day was established through a UN General Assembly resolution in April 2021, aiming to address global drowning prevention. 

Drowning is a form of suffocation resulting from the mouth and nose being submerged in water, and it often occurs in isolation or situations where others are unaware or unable to assist the victim.

To combat this issue, WHO has emphasized the importance of creating safe spaces away from water for children, teaching them how to swim, and enhancing flood risk management to reduce deaths by drowning.

The UN has proposed several preventative measures, such as establishing secure locations away from water sources for pre-school children with capable childcare, including creches. 

Other prevention strategies include teaching swimming and water safety, training bystanders in safe rescue techniques, installing barriers to control water access, providing instruction on safe rescue and resuscitation techniques, and implementing and enforcing regulations for safe boating, shipping, and ferry movement.

People are being encouraged to show their support for World Drowning Prevention Day 23 on social media by using the hashtag #DrowningPrevention be used, including for World #DrowningPrevention Day.

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