World Health Assembly adopts resolution to prevent drowning

The delegates at the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) agreed on a resolution to accelerate action on global drowning prevention. The resolution requests Member States to assess their national drowning situation and to develop and implement multi-sectoral drowning prevention programmes.

The WHO will set up a Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention with organisations of the UN system, international development partners and non-governmental organisations. 

Drowning is a leading killer

• Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid.

• Drowning causes 236,000 deaths every year. It is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7 per cent of all injury-related deaths. 

• Over the past decade, 2.5 million people died from drowning, and over 90 per cent of those occurred in low and middle-income countries.

• Just over 50 per cent of these deaths occur among those aged under 30 years. 

• Drowning is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide for children aged 5-14 years. 

• Whether it is small children slipping unnoticed into a pond, pool or well; adolescents swimming under the influence of alcohol or drugs; passengers on vessels that capsize; or residents of coastal communities struck by floods, the daily toll of this leading global killer continues its quiet rise. 

• Drowning is a serious and neglected public health threat. There are no broad prevention efforts that target drowning

Key risk factors:

• Lack of barriers controlling exposure to water bodies and lack of adequate, close supervision for infants and young children are a drowning risk, as are poor swim skills and low awareness of water dangers. 

• In addition, high-risk behaviour, including consuming alcohol while engaging with water, is a risk among young people and adults. Other risk factors are transport on water and water crossings, lack of safe water supply, and flood disasters. 

• Drowning is an important public health issue with major impacts on children and youth. 

• Drowning is preventable. High-income countries have reduced their drowning burden and some of the strategies used have been successfully adapted in low- and middle-income settings.

• World Drowning Prevention Day is observed annually on July 25.

Actions that can help prevent drowning:

i) Install barriers controlling access to water.

ii) Provide safe places away from water for pre-school children, with capable child care.

iii) Teach school-age children basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills.

iv) Train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation.

v) Strengthen public awareness of drowning and highlight the vulnerability of children.

vi) Set and enforce safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations.

vii) Build resilience and manage flood risks and other hazards locally and nationally.

viii) Coordinate drowning prevention efforts with those of other sectors and agendas.

ix) Develop a national water safety plan.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store