WHO Launches Global Strategy to Prevent Drowning, Calls for Stronger Water Safety Measures

New Delhi, July 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled seven new global strategies aimed at reducing drowning deaths, urging countries to strengthen water safety measures, improve emergency response systems and expand swimming education, particularly for children and vulnerable communities. The initiative comes as drowning continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives every year, making it one of the world’s leading causes of preventable deaths.

According to the WHO, drowning disproportionately affects low and middle income countries, where limited access to safe water infrastructure, swimming lessons and rescue services significantly increases the risk. Children, fishermen, migrants and people living near rivers, lakes and coastal regions remain among the most vulnerable groups.

The newly released framework encourages governments to integrate drowning prevention into national public health programmes instead of treating it solely as a disaster management issue. Health experts say coordinated policies involving schools, local administrations and emergency services can substantially reduce fatalities.

Among the key recommendations is expanding access to swimming and water safety education from an early age. WHO also recommends installing barriers around hazardous water bodies, improving flood preparedness, strengthening rescue and first-aid training, and promoting the use of life jackets during water transport.

The organisation highlighted that climate change, urban flooding and extreme weather events have increased exposure to water-related hazards, making preventive measures even more urgent. Seasonal floods and heavy rainfall have contributed to rising drowning incidents in several parts of the world.

Public awareness campaigns also form an important part of the strategy. WHO believes educating communities about water safety, supervising children near water and encouraging safe recreational practices can significantly lower accidental deaths.

Health officials stressed that drowning is often overlooked despite being largely preventable through low-cost interventions. They called on governments to allocate dedicated funding for water safety initiatives and strengthen cooperation between health departments, disaster management agencies and educational institutions.

Experts say improved surveillance and data collection will also help policymakers identify high-risk areas and design targeted interventions. Better reporting of drowning incidents is expected to support evidence-based public health planning.

The WHO said widespread implementation of these strategies could save thousands of lives annually while reducing the long-term social and economic burden associated with preventable water related deaths.