The United Nations (UN)’s World Drowning Prevention Day is annually observed across the globe on 25th July to highlight the impacts of death by drowning on families and communities and to provide solutions to prevent death by drowning.
- 25th July 2022 marks the observance of the 2nd World Drowning Prevention Day.
- The theme of 2022 World Drowning Prevention Day is “Do one thing – to prevent drowning”.
- The annual observance of World Drowning Prevention Day is led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with other relevant organisations. WHO also produces the World Drowning Prevention day related advocacy materials.
Highlights:
i.WHO has invited the public to ‘do one thing’ to save lives on World Drowning Prevention Day. For social media, WHO has recommended that the hashtag #DrowningPrevention is used on occasion.
Background :
i.The United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA ) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/273 on 28th April 2021 and proclaimed the 25th July of every year as World Drowning Prevention Day.
ii.The resolution also invited the WHO to coordinate the actions on drowning prevention
- The first-ever World Drowning Prevention Day was observed on 25th July 2021.
Drowning:
i.According to the UN, an estimated 236,000 people drown annually, which makes drowning a major public health problem all around the world. Drowning is the third leading reason for unintentional injury death and accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths.
ii.According to the WHO, more than 90% of drowning deaths happen in low and middle-income countries, with children under five being at maximum risk.
Measures to prevent drowning:
i.Installing barriers controlling access to water
ii.Providing safe places away from water such as crèches for pre-school children with capable childcare
iii.Teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills
iv.Training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation
v.Setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations
vi.Improving flood risk management
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Founded-1948
