EUMedDrowningPrevention plan by SWS
Each year almost 360,000 people die from drowning. More than half of these deaths are among those younger than 25, with children aged under 5 facing the greatest risk. Drowning is the third leading cause of of unintentional injury death worldwide for those aged from 5 to 14.
Despite these tragic facts, drowning prevention gets relatively little attention and few resources. There is far more we can do to strengthen prevention and to limit the tragic loss of life. Global commitments made as part of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, cannot be met as long as this preventable cause of death is left largely unchecked.
Recently the United Nations passed its first ever Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention (A/RES/75/273, April 28 2021). The Resolution proclaims July 25 each year as the "World Drowning Prevention Day" to raise awareness on the importance of drowning prevention and the need for urgent coordinated multisectoral action to improve water safety with the aim of reducing preventable deaths. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that every country should put together a National Strategic Plan for safety in the water.
The Mediterranean region is, by far, the most touristic region of the world in terms of both international and domestic tourism. No less than 20 percent of all tourists worldwide go to the Mediterranean for their holidays.
Raising awareness and coordinating our actions at the EU level will have significant added value. EU countries need to continue their efforts and initiatives to support and safeguard citizens and the European way of life. An EU initiative on drowning prevention and enhancing safety in water sports and the aquatic environment more generally, is imperative. This is naturally an area of particular importance for a Mediterranean country such as Greece, but also relevant for all Member States and their citizens. It is an issue which fully merits our attention, given the enormous human cost involved.
The initiative can coordinate a common response to drownings by setting up more detailed and measurable targets in terms of reducing fatalities, and regularly monitor progress towards this goal. It could be framed through the adoption of a Commission recommendation promoting minimum requirements for efficient drowning prevention strategies and supporting the sharing of results and best practice through a European exchange platform.
The EUDrowningPrevention can be an open, inclusive initiative that invites public administrations, people, communities and organizations to:
• Connect and share knowledge and best practices
• Learn about drowning prevention
• Develop, implement and scale up solutions
• Develop a national water safety plan
A dedicated EU conference can kickstart this essential endeavor. In the conference, each member will present a situational analysis and assessment including:
• a stakeholder and resource analysis,
• strategies and interventions adopted, with the most impact on drowning and sea-related accidents.
• The appointment of a National focal point for cross-sectoral co-operation that will facilitate communication between national stakeholders
Α situational assessment is a prerequisite and one that reveals the country’s drowning profile and current efforts to deal with drowning prevention.
Every participating member state will present, for every strategy and intervention adopted, a snapshot of the need addressed, the benefits, and the key steps to implementing.
The situation analysis elements are:
• available data (based on national health data collection systems / injury surveillance systems what populations should be targeted and what type of intervention is likely to have the greatest impact)
• current efforts (existing drowning prevention programs and practices reveal work already underway, where it is taking place, by whom, and the resources applied to it. The assessment can also yield important information about the effectiveness of these interventions, and any gaps in knowledge and practice).
• existing policies and regulations (The existence of any laws, regulatory framework or policies relevant to the intervention being considered (it may be helpful to tap into international standards to help inform appropriate interventions and ensure their effectiveness, for example on the floating properties of lifejackets). - Which entities have legal jurisdiction and responsibility for enforcement of relevant laws and regulatory frameworks related to drowning prevention. The degree to which measures that are a part of regulatory frameworks or legal requirements are actively enforced.)
• relevant stakeholders (a list of stakeholders relevant to the successful implementation of the drowning prevention interventions: Authorities (government ministries, departments and agents, certifying bodies), international organizations, Nongovernmental associations, NGOs, research or academic institutions, industry/business, water recreation facilities, watersports societies, society
• required human and financial resources
The establishment of this initiative, coupled with an inclusive EU conference, will create a forum for knowledge exchange, the sharing of best practices, and the development of effective policies to address our water safety challenges collectively. The initiative will develop and expand as a result of the innovation, requirements, and contributions of those who join it.