Introduction:
One of the leading causes of accidental death worldwide is drowning – also in Europe. In average 3,5 people drown every hour in Europe. 23.000 people die every year in European waters Thousands are suffering lifelong under brain damages as a result of non-fatal drowning accidents. In April 2021 the UN General Assembly passed its remarkable Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention. In February 2023 the WHO Excecutive Board decided to accelerate action on global drowning prevention.

Objectives:
Drowning is preventable. Undertaking preventive measures to enhance safety is therefore essential. 90% of the deaths among children could be averted. Such actions need to be intersectoral to ensure safe water environments using the combined approaches of engineering and modifying the environment, legislation and education. Obligate swimming courses in primary schools could help to improve the swim ability of children.

Methods:
In a survey the lifesaving federations tried to get information from the European countries if swimming courses would be mandatory in primary and secondary schools. The results are disappointing. In a further survey we tried to identify if the national governments in Europe which have sponsered the UN Resolution 75/273 (2021) would have appointed a national drowning prevention focal point, as foreseen.

Results:
The ability to swim has decreased in the last years. In many European countries swimming courses are not obligate in primary schools. In many European countries which sponsored the UN Resolution and supported the WHO Resolution for accelerated action the necessary actions haven’t yet started. ILSE has analyzed the data of the ca. 22.000 DBAs in Europe. They differ significantly regarding the safety aspects. Only a small part of the DBAs has an appropriate safety standard. Several lifesaving federations started a program to increase the ability to swim in children, i.e. after the Corona pandemic.

Conclusion:
To reduce drowning significantly it is necessary that the national governments have to start in their countries the proposed measures of the UN Resolution and WHO Resolution they supported. Swimming courses should become mandatory in primary schools in all European countries. The EU Bathing Water Directive should get also a safety dimension to protect not only the health of the EU citizens but also the safety of their life. Anybody can drown – but no one should!

Keywords: Drowning Prevention UN/WHO Resolution Lifesaving Bathing Areas European Directive

Other info: International Lifesaving Federation of Europe - Bad Nenndorf - Niedersachsen - Germany