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A group of adolescents watch peer jump in river
Young residents of the National Tapajos forest swim in the river to cool-off from the intense heat of the Brazilian sun. Children, who have access to bodies of water are especially at risk of drowning.
Photo:Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Unite to turn the tide

Drowning takes more than 300 000 lives a year ¨C 30 every hour ¨C and almost a quarter of them are children under five. Globally, it is among the ten leading causes of death for children aged 5-14 years.

More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels and swimming pools in low- and middle-income countries, with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected.

The theme for World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 is ¡°Unite to turn the tide.¡±

The Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention calls every sector and every level of society to one goal: unite to reduce drowning by 35% by 2035.

Closing the gap depends on all of us doing our part ¨C every person, in every place, in every context.

Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention: Turning the tide on a leading killer

The responds to an urgent need to unite a diverse multisectoral and multistakeholder audience through shared goals and a coordinated effort to meet the drowning challenge in all its forms. It offers a global-to-local approach, with affected people and populations at the centre of all decisions.

World Drowning Prevention Day

World Drowning Prevention Day, declared in April 2021 by General Assembly resolution , is held annually on 25 July. This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to offer life-saving solutions to prevent it.

All stakeholders ¨C governments, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia and individuals ¨C are invited to mark World Drowning Prevention Day by highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated and multi-sectoral action on proven measures such as:

  • installing barriers controlling access to water;
  • providing safe places away from water such as cr¨¨ches for pre-school children with capable childcare;
  • teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills;
  • training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation;
  • setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations;
  • improving flood risk management.

The new Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly resolution invited WHO to coordinate actions on drowning prevention within the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system. In this capacity, WHO leads preparations for World Drowning Prevention Day by producing related advocacy materials, hosting a global launch event and supporting national and local activities in countries and communities around the world.

#DrowningPrevention

 

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Did you know?

  • There are around 300 000 annual drowning deaths worldwide.
  • Drowning disproportionately impacts children and young people. Children aged under 5 years account for nearly a quarter of all drowning deaths.
  • Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1¨C4 years and the third leading cause of death for children aged 5¨C14 years.
  • Ninety-two percent of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Related Links

At the country level, WHO has worked with Ministries of Health in some low- and middle-income countries to prevent drowning through the use of barriers controlling access to water and the establishment of day care centres for pre-school children. In addition, WHO has also funded research in low-income countries exploring priority questions related to drowning prevention. At the regional level, WHO organizes training programmes and convenes workshops to draw together representatives of governments, NGOs and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ agencies working on drowning prevention.

 

This guide provides practical steps to reduce drowning ¨C one of the world¡¯s most preventable, neglected and pressing public health issues. Through 10 evidence-based interventions and strategies it is designed to help drowning-prevention practitioners -- from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and researchers to government officials and policy-makers -- approach drowning prevention in a strategic, evidence-based and multisectoral way. It also highlights ways to harness public awareness and engagement to strengthen drowning prevention interventions.

 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ observances.