10 Facts about World Drowning Prevention Day

  1. World Drowning Prevention Day is celebrated on July 25 every year.
  2. The day was established in 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Water Partnership.
  3. The goal of the day is to raise awareness about the prevention of drowning, which is a leading cause of death for children and young people worldwide.
  4. Every year, an estimated 236,000 people drown, making it the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide.
  5. Drowning is especially a problem in low- and middle-income countries, where it accounts for over 90% of all drowning deaths.
  6. Children under the age of 5 are at the highest risk of drowning, followed by adolescents aged 15-19.
  7. Males are more likely to drown than females.
  8. Drowning can happen in any type of water, including swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
  9. many things can be done to prevent drowning, such as teaching children how to swim, installing pool safety barriers, and supervising children when they are in or near water.
  10. World Drowning Prevention Day is a call to action to save lives and prevent drowning.

Some additional facts about drowning:

  • Drowning is a silent killer. People who are drowning often do not make a sound.
  • Drowning can happen very quickly. It takes as little as 2 minutes for someone to drown.
  • There are many myths about drowning. One myth is that people who are drowning will always wave their arms and scream for help. This is not always the case.
  • many things can be done to prevent drowning. Some of these things include:
    • Teaching children how to swim
    • Installing pool safety barriers
    • Supervising children when they are in or near water
    • Wearing life jackets when boating or swimming in open water
    • Being aware of the dangers of rip currents

We can all do our part to prevent drowning. By learning about the risks and taking steps to protect ourselves and others, we can help to save lives.