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.
- World Drowning Prevention Day 2023 theme is “Anyone can drown, no one should” and World Health Organisation (WHO) is inviting technical partners to: Do One Thing, Improve One Thing or Add One Thing to improve safety of people in and around water.
25th July 2023 marks the observance of the 3rd World Drowning Prevention Day.
History:
i.World Drowning Prevention Day was established by the U.N. General Assembly Resolution’s A/RES/75/273 “Global drowning prevention” in April 2021, to spread the awareness on drowning and devise various counteractions to restrain it.
ii.The first World Drowning Prevention Day was marked on 25 July 2021.
Data on Drowning:
i.An estimated 236 000 people die from drowning each year, constituting 7% of all injury-related deaths. Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged 1–4 years, followed by children aged 5–9 years.
ii.More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels and swimming pools in low- and middle-income countries, with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected.
Measures to Prevent from Drowning:
WHO also raises awareness on six evidence-based, low-cost drowning prevention interventions that countries and organizations can use to drastically reduce the risk of drowning. These include:
i.Train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation
ii.Set and enforce safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations
iii.Improve flood risk management locally and internationally
iv.Install barriers controlling access to water
v.Provide safe places away from water for pre school children with capable child care
vi.Teach school age children basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills.
76th World Health Assembly adopts first ever resolution on drowning prevention
i.76th World Health Assembly adopted its first ever resolution “Accelerating action on global drowning prevention” requesting governments and their partners, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), to accelerate action on drowning prevention through 2029.
ii.The resolution was sponsored by the Governments of Bangladesh and Ireland and adopted by Member States.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Founded- 1948
