Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a strong warning to the public to prioritize water safety and protect themselves and others from drowning.
According to Ghana News Agency, drowning is often silent, sudden, and unexpected, making it difficult to detect until it is too late. Globally, drowning claims over 300,000 lives each year. 'Anyone can drown, but no one should,' the organization stated.
The WHO identified several groups at increased risk of drowning, including young children due to limited risk awareness and lack of swimming skills, and males, who face more than twice the drowning death rate of females, and are more likely to be hospitalized from non-fatal drowning incidents. Marginalized and low-income communities, where people depend on open water sources-such as ponds, rivers, and wells-for daily needs like bathing or collecting water, are also at higher risk.
Additionally, occupational groups, such as commercial or subsistence fishers, who spend extended time on water, and populations affected by climate change, which is contributing to more frequent floods and severe weather events, are notably vulnerable. Drowning accounts for 75 percent of deaths in flood disasters. Travel by water, especially during dangerous weather or without proper safety equipment, significantly increases the risk of drowning.
WHO Safety Tips to Prevent Drowning include learning swimming and water safety skills and ensuring your children do too, always supervising children closely when near water, never leaving a child unattended, even for a moment, checking weather conditions before swimming, avoiding alcohol consumption when supervising children or swimming, and ensuring life jackets and buoys are available and used properly.
The WHO calls on all individuals, communities, and governments to prioritize water safety measures and create awareness to help prevent this preventable tragedy. This call comes amidst ongoing heavy rains and widespread flooding.
