Anyone Can Drown. No One Should: World Drowning Prevention Day

Anyone can drown. No one should. July 25 is World Drowning Prevention Day, set forth by The United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO). The Greater Scranton YMCA is joining in on raising drowning prevention awareness as a public health issue. Visit who.int/campaigns/world-drowning-prevention-day to learn more about this global campaign, six low-cost, evidence-based interventions and what you can do in your household and local community.

In 2023, the 76th World Health Assembly adopted its first ever resolution on drowning prevention. The resolution accepts the invitation of the UN General Assembly for WHO to coordinate actions within the UN system on drowning prevention and facilitate the observance of World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25 each year.

Drowning has caused over 2.5 million deaths in the last decade. Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged 1–4 years, followed by children aged 5–9 years. The human, social and economic toll of these losses is intolerably high, and entirely preventable.

The WHO is also raising awareness on the six evidence-based, low-cost drowning prevention interventions that countries and organizations can use to drastically reduce the risk of drowning. These include:

· installing barriers controlling access to water

· providing safe places away from water for pre-school children, with capable childcare

· teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills

· training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation

· setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations

· improving flood risk management

On World Drowning Prevention Day, discover how the Greater Scranton YMCA can help your family be safe around water year-round. Visit us online to learn more.