• The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever global report on drowning prevention, revealing that 3 lakh lives were lost to drowning worldwide in 2021, averaging 30 deaths every hour.

• A disproportionate 92% of fatalities occurred in low- and middle-income countries, with South-East Asia accounting for 28% of the global burden.

• The report highlights that children under five are most vulnerable, constituting 24% of drowning deaths.

• Despite a 38% global decline in drowning rates since 2000, the progress has been uneven, with the WHO’s South-East Asia Region witnessing only a 48% reduction.

• WHO emphasized that nearly all drowning deaths are preventable.

• Key measures include integrating swimming lessons into school curriculums, improving flood risk management, and training bystanders in rescue techniques.

• WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus urged countries to prioritize drowning prevention, emphasizing its potential to save millions of lives and avert an estimated $4 trillion in economic losses by 2050.

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