Someone drowns every 90 seconds across the world prompting health experts to brand it a ‘neglected public health issue’, while calling for action to save lives.
The World Health Organisation said it is among the top 10 leading causes of childhood death in each of the four corners of the world.
Despite that, experts at the WHO said there are no broad strategies in place to help prevent drowning and bring down the ‘appallingly high death rate’.
Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organisation said: ‘Whether it is small children slipping unnoticed into a pond, pool or well; adolescents swimming under the influence of alcohol or drugs; passengers on vessels that capsize; or residents of coastal communities struck by floods, the daily toll of this leading global killer continues its quiet rise.’
The report said: ‘Drowning is a serious and neglected public health threat claiming the lives of 372,000 people a year worldwide.
‘More than 90 per cent of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries.
‘This death toll is almost two thirds that of malnutrition and well over that of malaria – but unlike these public health challenges, there are no broad prevention efforts that target drowning.’
It highlighted that more than 40 people die on average every hour from drowning – about one every 90 seconds.
In 2012, there were 372, 000 deaths a year, but difficulties in reporting the data mean even this figure could be a vast underestimation.
In some countries, surveys showed a death rate up to five times higher than the WHO estimate.
The overwhelming majority (90 per cent) of drownings happen in low and middle income countries where people have close daily contact with water for work, transport or agriculture.
Just under half the world’s population have no access to piped water, meaning water holes, wells or lakes, ponds and other bodies of surface water are the only sources for drinking, washing and cooking.
There is a lack of barriers or signs around water hazard like open wells, uncovered manholes and ditches, it said.
In some countries, homes are built on river banks or over water, which, combined with poor flood prevention strategies, puts people at risk.
Twenty-seven million people worldwide work on or around water in the small-scale fishing industry, which is often not well-regulated, it added.
The report said the main risk factors for drowning are lack of barriers to water and lack of adequate supervision for infants and young children.
They are at high risk of drowning because they have poor swimming skills and aren’t aware of the dangers.
The report warns that young children can also drown in vessels that people may not think of as dangerous, such as a bucket or a toilet.
The report uses the example of Bangladesh, where drowning now accounts for 43 per cent of deaths among children aged one to four.
For adults, high risk behaviours like drinking alcohol are the main risk factors.
Others include travelling on water, a lack of safe water supply and flood disasters.
A host of prevention policies should be put in place to prevent drownings, it recommended.
These include erecting barriers and clear signs near to water hazards and having capable people supervising young children.
Tougher regulations for boating and requiring people to wear personal flotation devices when travelling or working on water are also required.
Lastly, it recommended training bystanders in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compression so they can help save people who are drowning.