Drowning kills about 300,000 people worldwide each year — an average of nearly 800 every day.
Children aged five to 14 face particularly high risks, with drowning ranking among the ten leading causes of death in this age group.
Floods, severe storms and extreme heat increase the danger. A UK study linked each additional degree of temperature to a 7.2 per cent rise in drowning deaths; the risk on days above 25°C was nearly five times higher than on days below 10°C.
Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, countries and local communities were given seven areas for preventive action:
- build safe infrastructure around bodies of water;
- teach rescue and first-aid skills;
- strengthen safety for people working on or near water;
- introduce modern safety requirements for water transport;
- teach children and adults to swim and behave safely around water;
- provide constant supervision for children near water;
- prepare local communities for floods and other emergencies.
The 2026 observance carries the theme “Together for water safety”. Prevention requires cooperation among authorities, specialists and local communities.
