Drowning continues to be a critical public health issue worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) sounding an alarm over the potential for 7.2 million people to drown by 2050 if current trends persist. Despite a significant reduction in global drowning deaths over the past two decades, the WHO emphasizes that more concerted efforts are needed to further reduce the toll and save lives.
The WHO report reveals a positive development—a 38% decrease in drowning deaths since 2000, marking a significant global health achievement. However, the situation remains dire, with around 300,000 drowning deaths recorded globally in 2021 alone. Alarmingly, nearly half of these deaths were among individuals aged 29 and under, and one-quarter of them involved children under the age of five. The highest risks are seen among children who lack adult supervision around water.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, acknowledged the progress made, calling it a “great news” moment. “The significant decline in drowning deaths since 2000 is proof that the simple, practical interventions that WHO recommends work,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. “Still, every drowning death is one death too many, and millions of people remain at risk. This report contains crucial data for policy-making and recommendations for urgent action to save lives.”
Disparities in Drowning Death Reduction
Despite the positive trend globally, progress in reducing drowning deaths has been uneven across different regions. According to the report, nine out of ten drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In the WHO European Region, the rate of drowning deaths dropped by 68% between 2000 and 2021, whereas in the WHO African Region, the reduction was a modest 3%, with the region having the highest drowning death rate—5.6 deaths per 100,000 people.
One of the contributing factors to these disparities is the lack of national strategies for drowning prevention. In the African Region, only 15% of countries have national strategies in place, compared to 45% in the European Region. The WHO urges a greater commitment from nations to tackle drowning deaths, especially in vulnerable regions.
India’s Efforts and the Path Ahead
India has taken steps to address the issue, launching the “Strategic Framework for Drowning Prevention” last year. According to government data, there were 38,000 reported drowning cases in India in 2023, a staggering number. In response, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched programs aimed at raising mass awareness, particularly in rural areas, where most drowning deaths occur.
The strategic framework emphasizes multi-sectoral collaboration, public awareness campaigns, and the establishment of national and state action plans for drowning prevention. It also calls for research to generate evidence that can inform localized actions to prevent drownings. The government is focusing on creating safer environments around water bodies, such as installing barriers to prevent children’s access to water and teaching water safety skills to children.
WHO’s Recommendations for Drowning Prevention
The WHO has laid out several community-based actions to prevent drowning, such as:
- Installing barriers to prevent child access to water.
- Providing safe areas away from water for pre-school children.
- Teaching school-aged children basic swimming, water safety, and rescue skills.
- Training people in rescue and resuscitation techniques.
- Strengthening public awareness on drowning prevention.
- Enforcing safe boating, shipping, and ferry regulations.
- Improving flood risk management.
The Need for a Coordinated Approach
As the WHO report concludes, drowning deaths can be prevented through a coordinated, whole-of-society response. Increased collaboration and investment in drowning prevention are vital to ensuring that the promising trends seen in some regions are experienced more uniformly and equitably. For countries like India, the collective efforts of governments, communities, and individuals can make a significant difference in protecting the most vulnerable and saving lives.
The WHO urges policymakers and communities worldwide to take immediate action to address this preventable tragedy and continue the global effort to reduce drowning deaths further. With consistent efforts, drowning can be prevented, saving millions of lives and creating safer environments for children and adults alike.
Sources By Agencies
