| Each year almost 360 000 people die from drowning – over 90% of them in low- and middle-income countries. Males are twice as likely to drown as females. More than half of drowning deaths are among those younger than 25 years. Drowning is the third leading cause of death worldwide for children aged 5-14 years, with children aged under 5 years facing the greatest risk.
WHO and experts attending the World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2017 are promoting a set of measures to reduce drowning, including among them:
“The message is clear. Global commitments made as part of the Sustainable Development Goals – in particular those to reduce child mortality – cannot be met as long as this preventable cause of death is left largely unchecked,” notes Dr Etienne Krug, Director, WHO Department for the Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention. “Action must be accelerated by national and local governments to put in place these simple drowning prevention measures to save lives.” Co-sponsored by the World Health Organization, the World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2017 takes place in Vancouver, Canada from 17-19 October 2017. More than 800 delegates from over 60 countries are sharing knowledge and experience and defining ways to better work together to advance drowning prevention. |
Also view:
Safe Swimming and Preventing Drowning
| RELATED LINKS
World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2017
Preventing drowning: an implementation guide http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/drowning/drowning_prevention_guide/en/
Global report on drowning http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/global_report_drowning/en/
WHO fact sheet on drowning |