Rising incidents of drowning, particularly among children in India, have underscored the dire need for methods to prevent these accidents. With the arrival of World Drowning Prevention Day, it becomes crucial to address this avoidable cause of death. This day serves to raise awareness about safety measures that could potentially curb these tragic incidents.
Understanding World Drowning Prevention Day
World Drowning Prevention Day is an annual global event occurring on the 25th July. It serves to commemorate lives lost to drowning and to propagate knowledge on safety near water bodies. The United Nations General Assembly sanctioned it in April 2021, calling upon the World Health Organization (WHO) to guide actions within the UN regarding drowning prevention.
The significance of this day lies in the fact that drowning has caused over 2.5 million deaths in the past decade, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. This human, social, and economic calamity is entirely preventable. Implementation of evidence-based, affordable drowning prevention interventions could notably lower the risk of drowning.
Drowning Statistics: A Deep Dive into the Disturbing Numbers
Recent Global Health Estimates from WHO show that nearly 236,000 people succumbed to drowning in 2019. More than half of these deaths were individuals under 30 years of age. Drowning holds the sixth spot as a cause of death worldwide for children between 5-14 years.
Children aged 1–4 years record the highest rates of drowning, followed by those aged 5–9 years globally. Furthermore, drowning ranks third as the cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, making up 7% of all injury-related deaths. Boys face a higher risk of drowning than girls, and rural areas record higher drowning rates than urban locations. Limited access to safe water also raises the risk of drowning.
In India, 36,362 drowning deaths were reported in 2021 alone, highlighting the particular vulnerability of children.
Drowning Causes and Risk Factors: Why Does It Happen?
Drowning refers to respiratory distress following immersion in a liquid medium. It can result from diverse causes such as floods, storms, boat accidents, lack of supervision, unsafe water sources, or recreational activities.
The main factors contributing to drowning include age, gender, location, water access, swimming ability, alcohol use, and lack of awareness. Poor swimming skills and absence of water safety knowledge add to the drowning risk. Alcohol use impairs judgment and raises the potential for drowning. Lower awareness about drowning prevention measures minimizes protective actions.
Preventing Drowning: Effective Interventions
There are a number of effective interventions to prevent drowning. These include installing barriers around bodies of water such as pools, wells, and ponds to restrict access. Safe zones away from water for both children and adults can be established. Other interventions involve teaching swimming and water safety skills to people living near water bodies or engaging in water-related activities. Training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation techniques, like Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or mouth-to-mouth breathing, can also help. Enforcing safe boating and shipping regulations, including encouraging the wearing of life jackets and regular maintenance, is another vital measure. Improved flood risk management with flood-resistant infrastructure and early warning systems can further aid in preventing drowning.
Government Initiatives to Curb Drowning Deaths
To address the mounting incidence of drowning, both national and global initiatives have been launched. In India, the government established an expert committee to formulate the Drowning Prevention Framework. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced a ‘National Emergency Life Support’ provider course manual, which covers drowning prevention, in February 2022.
On a global scale, the Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention was formed during the 76th World Health Assembly meeting. It aims to tackle public health concerns related to drowning by 2029. The WHO is tasked with coordinating actions and preparing a global status report on drowning.