At the end of July, the international community comes together to mark World Drowning Prevention Day. This awareness-raising initiative was established by the United Nations General Assembly.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of lives are lost to drowning, an often overlooked but preventable scourge. This makes drowning the third leading cause of accidental death worldwide. Over 90% occur in low- and middle-income countries, with a particularly high incidence among young people. Governments, international institutions, civil society organizations, the private sector and educational establishments are invited to celebrate World Drowning Prevention Day every July 25, to raise awareness among the general public and to encourage the parties concerned to take action.
Every action matters. Among the recommendations of resolution A/RES/75/273 “World-wide prevention of drowning”, which gave rise to this day, to be promulgated in 2021, are measures targeting children. These include the teaching of swimming, water safety and water rescue, and the provision of safe areas away from water, such as nurseries staffed by qualified child-keepers. More generally, it is advisable to act in a coordinated way with low-cost measures that are already proving their worth: training passers-by in rescue and resuscitation, improving flood risk management, or introducing boat safety regulations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms this urgency: despite a 38% drop in the drowning mortality rate since 2000, 236,000 people still die every year. According to the UN resolution: “Drowning is a social justice issue that disproportionately affects children and adolescents in rural areas […]”.
The safety of people at sea is reinforced by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which lays down mandatory minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of ships engaged in international voyages.
Unusual national anti-drowning initiatives
Around the world, several countries stand out for their drowning prevention projects.
- In Brazil, drowning prevention relies, among other things, on the involvement of volunteers known as Sea Angels. These civilian beach patrollers play an essential part in monitoring seaside areas and providing early warning of danger. Amara B’Deen Conteh, a lifeguard of Sierra Leonean origin, has saved hundreds of people despite his inability to swim, thanks to specialized training provided by the UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
- France has the second largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world, covering 10.2 million square kilometers, 97% of which is overseas. This makes drowning prevention a maritime safety priority for the country, backed up by particularly effective systems, including the Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centers (CROSS). Their part is to coordinate search and rescue operations at sea, ensuring constant surveillance of France’s maritime zones. In 2023, CROSS handled more than 3,500 interventions, saving almost 1,200 lives, thanks in particular to reinforced cooperation with the French Navy and local authorities.
- Much further down the globe, in South Africa, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) launched an initiative as original as it is effective back in 2017: the pink buoy program. Unlike conventional lifebuoys, which are often not very visible, these buoys feature a bright pink color, making them easier to spot, even in low-light conditions. This unusual choice in the maritime field has helped to attract public attention and encourage their use in emergencies. This visual improvement has saved hundreds of lives to date, and the program has been praised by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) for its practical impact and ease of application.
- In 2007, the Quebec Lifesaving Society set up the “Splash Brigade” in Canada, a traveling summer campaign to raise awareness of the risks of drowning. Its mobile, interactive approach makes it an interesting case in point. Rather than being confined to beaches or swimming pools, the Splash Brigade travels in a truck equipped with educational material and practical demonstrations, reaching out to both rural and urban communities. This approach reaches a wide and varied public, often far from traditional prevention centers. In addition, each year the Lifesaving Society rolls out high-profile advertising campaigns, such as the “Close to Death” series, which uses hard-hitting but non-moralistic messages to get the message across about safety.
What can you do to prevent drowning?
Drowning prevention also relies onthe proper use of rescue techniques and knowledge of emergency procedures. When faced with an accident, every moment counts, and knowing how to react can make all the difference.
The first reflex when faced with a drowning person is to immediately alert the emergency services. Until they arrive:
– Never jump into the water unprepared, especially if you’re not an experienced swimmer, to avoid becoming a victim yourself.
– Attempt rescue from a distance, using a floating object (buoy, board, pole, rope) to pull the victim towards the shore or a safe place.
– Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as soon as the victim is out of the water if he or she is no longer breathing. First aid training is essential for all citizens.
– Clear the airways and place the victim in the side-lying position if he or she is breathing but unconscious.
What equipment buy to avoid accidents?
– Floatation shirts, or swimming vests, offer sufficient buoyancy to keep your head above water, making them ideal for children or beginner swimmers. They are increasingly recommended in high-risk areas.
– Bracelets or electronic monitoring devices. Some models detect prolonged immersion and send an alert to a telephone or monitoring station.
– Lifebuoys. These classic buoys are still a safe choice when it comes to personal marine safety.
– For municipalities and individuals, invest in physical barriers and fences to prevent unsupervised access to water by young children.
– Alarm systems are also available for swimming pools, detecting any falls into the water and immediately warning whoever needs to be alerted.
