July 25th marks World Drowning Preventions Day, established in 2021 by the UN, to draw attention and underline the importance of drowning prevention globally. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death globally and the 3rd cause of unintentional injury casualties, counting for 7% of the total. According to WHO, around 236,000 lives are lost to drowning annually. A “silent epidemic of preventable deaths” is said to occur at a rate of nearly 650 every day.
A silent, fatal threat
According to the Global Report on Drowning published in 2014 by the World Health Organization, more than 40 people lose their lives every hour to drowning Nine years later, progress has been made, but much work has to be doneDrowning is still a leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, with over 90% of fatalities occurring in low and middle-income countries. Moreover, drowning is also among the ten causes of death for children and young people aged 1-24 years in every region of the world. These shocking numbers do not include drownings during flood-related climate events such as floods or cyclones, nor during transport related disasters such as a ferry sinking. This means that these numbers may be underrepresented by as much as 50% in some countries.
In 2021, MOAS investigated fatal drowning incidents that occurred in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, between January 2019 and December 2020. You can read the full report here.
MOAS on World Drowning Prevention Day
To underline the importance of drowning prevention, in 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/273, establishing World Drowning Prevention Day on the 25th July every year.
“The resolution recognizes the scale and impact of drowning prevention globally, and calls for coordinated multisectoral actions to prevent drowning, a leading cause of injury-related death and disability worldwide”. (United Nations)
“The resolution draws clear connections between drowning and its negative impacts on global sustainable development. It also shows the relevance of drowning and its prevention to various initiatives and agreements for addressing climate change and reducing disaster risk”. (WHO)
MOAS fully supports the aim of the UN resolution (and World Drowning Prevention Day) to attract more international attention to the importance of drowning prevention. Drowning has a devastating impact on families, communities, and economies, therefore much greater national and global awareness and action is needed.
How does the work of MOAS prevent drowning?
Concerned by the high rate of drowning, MOAS provides technical expertise and support to local partners to deliver Flood and Water Safety Training in refugee camps and vulnerable communities. We provide specialised training to thousands of volunteers in globally recognised flood and water rescue techniques through our team of technical advisors. This program not only builds community resilience against flood-related hazards but also promotes self-development by equipping volunteers with teamwork and leadership skills.
MOAS designed and developed tailor-made tools, such as throw bags and bottle rings, used by our in-country partners to combat drowning. These are easily made locally and are for use in specific contexts. This work aims to improve resilience against aquatic disasters and assist local communities’ self-development through “training the trainers”—thus expanding their capacity to respond quickly tools have been modified to be in case of emergency.
What does the MOAS flood training include?
The training is designed to enhance the safety of community members and help them respond to the risks posed by flooding and other water-related emergencies. After a theory session, highlighting important personal safety information, volunteers start practical training on land and in water; they learn how to prepare for rapid flooding and practice response techniques properly. Volunteers are taught how to use simple locally-made rescue equipment such as a throwback and a bottle ring. They also learn to safely wade through water individually and in small teams, using bamboo as a wading pole to check the ground ahead.
Final thoughts
There is a crucial need to contextualize drowning prevention programs so that they are better suited to the specific environment and target population of refugee camps and informal settlements in risk-prone regions. One size does not fit all. Given the different risks associated with age groups and the importance of the wider community’s awareness and rescue skills, we will continue to provide a holistic approach to Flood and Water Safety training and drowning prevention wherever it is most needed. MOAS continues to advocate for expanded Disaster Risk Reduction services to prevent drowning.
If you are interested in the work of MOAS and our partners, please follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletter and share our content. You can also reach out to us at any time via [email protected]. If you want to support our operations, please give what you can at www.moas.eu/donate.