Monday, July 25, is World Drowning Prevention Day. On average, 236,000 people drown every year, making drowning a leading cause of accidental death. There are ways to help prevent these devastating incidents. Everyone, from government organizations to the private sector, hold stake in a coordinated effort to lower the human lives lost to drowning.
Combating the Issue
Since the early 20th century, the United States has been creating more and more safeguards to combat the issue of drowning. Not surprisingly, drowning affects children and adolescents on a disproportionate scale. In 1908, George Douglas Freeth established the first lifeguard training program. Further, in 1964, the United States Lifesaving Association was founded by California surf lifeguards. The association works to improve and standardize lifesaving and lifeguarding practices.
Unfortunately, the first World Health Organization (WHO) exclusive global report on drowning was not released until 2014. The WHO’s guide to drowning prevention was soon to follow in 2017. This is especially important, as the majority of drownings take place in the lakes and rivers of rural areas in low- and middle- income nations.
Drowning Prevention
The United Nations (UN) and the WHO have formed a multi-agency force. Together, along with many other entities, they hope to focus on measures that have proven to help:
- installing barriers around water
- teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills
- training bystanders in rescue and life saving
- setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping, and ferry regulations
To observe this day, everyone can use #DrowningPrevention on all social media platforms. You can attend a training session for various life saving measures. Finally, as always, you can raise awareness of this issue. Maybe if the truth is brought forward, no matter how uncomfortable, we can move toward a successful lowering the death tolls.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are.
And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Sources: WHO; UN; National Today
Images: AdobeStock