Drowning is sudden, abrupt, and shocking, with people often not realizing it's happening until it's too late.

What leads to drowning often happens in just a few seconds:

A small child slipping unnoticed into a pond or pool on a sunny afternoon;

Feeling invincible after a few drinks and jumping into the ocean for a swim;

Accepting that one extra passenger on the boat, despite knowing it might capsize;

Deciding it's too much of a hassle to put on that lifejacket.

So much can happen in a single moment. But with the right awareness and actions, what happens in those seconds can also be changed - for the better.

In April 2021, the United Nations adopted the historic first Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention, recognising the scale of the problem, calling for coordinated action to prevent drowning and marking the 25 July as World Drowning Prevention Day.

Drowning doesn’t have a single cause, or a single solution. But it can be prevented. Drowning is an issue that affects every nation of the world. Globally, nearly a quarter of a million people lose their lives to drowning every year. Almost 82,000 of them are children.

In Australia hundreds of families lose loved ones to drowning every year.

World Drowning Prevention Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of drowning prevention and to reduce preventable deaths.

Take the time to watch the video below and remember why it is so important to embrace World Drowning Prevention Day and the message that "Anyone can drown, no one should."

For more information and resources visit:

World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-drowning-prevention-day/2024

Royal Life Saving Australia: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/campaigns-and-programs/World-Drowning-Prevention-Day