Drowning: a neglected public health crisis

• The recent drowning of three IAS aspirants in the basement of their coaching centre in New Delhi is a grim reminder that anyone can drown, anywhere.
• Ironically, this tragedy occurred two days after Drowning Prevention Day, an annual WHO-led global event to raise awareness about drowning as a leading cause of death.

The Rising Risk of Drowning

• Global factors like rising seas, poverty, and dangerous livelihoods contribute to increasing drowning incidents.
• Displaced populations and children facing hazardous school journeys are especially vulnerable.
  • In India, children's journeys to school involve navigating dangerous rivers and floods.
• Cyclones, hurricanes, and floods are expected to amplify exposure to water, putting even more lives at risk.
  • Children under 10 and adolescents, who already account for half of all drowning deaths, will be the most at risk.

A Global Public Health Issue

• WHO reports that drowning claims 2,36,000 lives annually, with 82,000 being children aged 1 to 14 years.
• Despite a death toll comparable to malnutrition and malaria, drowning remains a neglected issue.
• Data on drowning deaths is inadequate, as many incidents such as accidents involving water transport, as well as natural disasters, are excluded.
• Experts believe the actual toll could be four or five times higher, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Global Efforts to Combat Drowning

• Drowning prevention gained attention when WHO published the first-ever global report on drowning prevention in 2014.
• In 2021, the UN adopted a resolution on drowning prevention calling for worldwide action.
• Various countries have adopted water safety plans, such as
  • Australia's focus on surf lifesavers
  • Vietnam’s emphasis on swimming lessons
  • Bangladesh’s community-based childcare model that reduced child drowning deaths by 88%.
• India joined these efforts in 2023 with the launch of its Strategic Framework for Drowning Prevention.

Addressing Social Inequities

• Policymakers should treat drowning as a social inequity issue rather than just accidental deaths.
• Drowning predominantly affects low- and middle-income countries.
  • Global data tells us that 90% of all drowning deaths occur in LMICs.
• Even in developed nations, it disproportionately impacts poor and minority communities.

A Path Forward

• Addressing drowning will require long-term solutions, resources, and multi-sectoral cooperation.
• In the meantime, low-cost interventions like water barriers, daycare centers, swimming lessons, and safe water transport could save lives every day.