30 folks drowned each hour in 2021 globally, says WHO report 

Unmindful of the chance, kids taking part in within the sea in Visakhapatnam. Warning boards have been erected right here after a number of folks drowned through the years.
| Photograph Credit score: Okay.R. DEEPAK

The World Well being Group (WHO) revealed its first-ever international standing report on drowning prevention on Friday, December 13, 2024. The report, launched at an occasion in Geneva, reveals that three lakh folks died by drowning in 2021 around the globe (an estimated 30 each hour).

Near 92% of such deaths happened in low- and middle-income international locations, disproportionately affecting the poor and marginalised. The WHO’s South-East Asia Area (which incorporates India) noticed 83,000 deaths, or 28% of the worldwide burden.

WHO Director-Basic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, through video convention, mentioned the report supplied a snapshot of the worldwide burden of drowning. Nations may use the report to lift consciousness, information implementation methods and observe progress on drowning prevention, he mentioned.

Compiled with the participation of 139 international locations – together with India – the report discovered that whereas drowning deaths declined 38% since 2000, the progress had been uneven and the tempo gradual. The WHO’s European Area, as an example, noticed a 68% drop, whereas the South-East Asia Area noticed a decline of 48%.

Kids most weak

Primarily in danger are kids and younger folks. Kids aged below 5 accounted for the one largest share of drowning deaths (24%), with an extra 19% of deaths amongst kids aged 5 to 14, and 14% amongst younger folks aged 15 to 29. The report notes that globally, drowning is the fourth main reason behind dying for youngsters within the age group of one-four and the third main reason behind dying for youngsters aged 5 to 14.

Even these staggering numbers nevertheless, are an underestimate, notes Caroline Lukaszyk, technical officer, WHO, because the report doesn’t seize deaths by drowning owing to pure disasters corresponding to flooding, and those who happen on water transport, primarily as a result of a scarcity of correct information. With vulnerability to flooding growing as a result of local weather change – and 75% of flooding deaths identified to be as a result of drowning – this can be a precedence on the drowning prevention agenda, she says.

Coaching essential

The report additionally states that whereas encouragingly, the WHO’s evidence-based drowning prevention interventions are being carried out in lots of international locations, the implementation is to various levels. For example, solely 33% of nations provide nationwide programmes to coach bystanders in secure rescue and resuscitation, and simply 22% combine swimming and water security coaching into their college curriculum. High quality information assortment additionally stays a problem.

Greater than 7.2 million folks, primarily kids, may die as a result of this “silent killer” by the 12 months 2050 if present tendencies proceed. But virtually all drowning deaths are preventable, the report states, highlighting that political will and funding in drowning prevention are essential to save lots of lives.

Investing in drowning prevention efforts wouldn’t solely save lives, it may assist stop financial losses of about $4 trillion that might happen by 2050 if efforts aren’t taken to stem the disaster. Offering day take care of pre-school kids and educating college college students primary swimming expertise may assist defend tens of millions of lives in international locations with excessive charges of drowning, the report states.

Developed in response to a member-state request made by means of a World Well being Meeting Decision 76.18 (2023) and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the report underscores the truth that drowning is a fancy well being subject that requires the involvement of a number of sectors to handle the broad vary of threat elements. Laws, even when it exists, is usually out of step with the dimensions of the problem, it says.