Published 30 June 2022
The World Health Organization has released a new report providing practical guidance on three ways to reduce drowning that can be used in low-, middle- and high-income countries across the world.
The Preventing Drowning Report is designed for the provision of day-care, basic swimming and water safety skills, and safe rescue and resuscitation training.
Today, drowning claims the lives of over 230,000 people every year – the vast majority in low- and middle-income countries.
Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Chief Executive Officer, Justin Scarr was one of the 17 advisers from around the world who contributed to the report.
“This is an important guide to each of these interventions: teaching basic swimming and water safety skills to school-age children; providing day-care for pre-school children; and training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation,” Mr Scarr said.
“In Australia we take for granted the existence of many elements of the swimming ecosystem, like guidelines and teacher training, but these are rarely present in parts of the world that most need drowning prevention.”
The World Health Organization recommends programme managers fully implement all practical guidance provided for each intervention, and that those tasked with approving or monitoring such programmes also ensure full adherence to the practical guidance in this resource.
Bloomberg Philanthropies provided financial support for the development of Preventing Drowning. You can download a free copy of the report at the World Health Organization website.
