In its first-ever report on drowning prevention, the World Health Organization revealed a 38 per cent drop in global drowning death rates since 2000 — a major global health achievement.

However, the report notes that drowning remains a major public health issue with more than 30 people estimated to drown every hour and 300,000 dying by drowning in 2021 alone. Almost half of all drowning deaths occur among people below 29 years, and a quarter among children aged under five. Children without adult supervision are at an especially high risk of drowning.

Besides, the progress in reducing drowning has been uneven. At the global level, nine in 10 drowning deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO European region saw a 68 per cent drop in the drowning death rate between 2000 and 2021, yet the rate fell by just 3 per cent in the WHO African region, which has the highest rate at 5.6 deaths per 100,000 people, the WHO said. This may be influenced by the level of national commitment to addressing the issue. The WHO recommended installation of barriers to prevent child access to water and training people in rescue and resuscitation, among other measures.