The RNLI’s role in the first-ever Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention

In December 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first-ever Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention, which revealed a 38% fall in the global drowning death rate since 2000 — undoubtedly a global health achievement. 

However, it emphasised that drowning is still a major public health issue, with 300,000 people drowning worldwide each year, one person every 2 minutes (Global Health Estimates 2024, WHO). 

Children and young people are most affected, with children under 5 accounting for 24% of all global drowning deaths.   

You can watch short video on the key findings from the report at the end of this article. 

What is the reason for the change in figures? 

You may remember that the previous estimate of global drowning deaths was 236,000 per year, and wonder why that has now been replaced by 300,00 per year. These estimates are produced every 3-4 years by the World Health Organization, as part of their ‘Global Health Estimates’ process.

New estimates released by WHO in 2024 have been adjusted back to 2000, so replace all estimates used previously. The new estimate of 300,000 drowning deaths serves as a reminder that drowning is a major cause of preventable deaths worldwide, particularly in low-and middle-income countries.  

RNLI’s role 

The Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention draws heavily on work that the RNLI has delivered in recent years, including the UN General Assembly Resolution (adopted in 2021) and the World Health Assembly Resolution (adopted in 2023). These are described in the report as offering a ‘roadmap for action’ for drowning prevention.  

The RNLI's International Team were also closely involved in the 2-year process to develop the report, with Senior Evidence Manager Tom Mecrow credited in the report as a member of the Technical Advisory Group.

Other members of the team gave feedback on the framework and reviewed drafts, as well as exploring opportunities for sharing the report's findings with a broader audience.  

Bringing a human face to the issue 

Megan Griffiths was invited to attend the global launch of the Global Status Report in Geneva to share her personal experience of losing her brother Haydn, who drowned while swimming off New Brighton in 2022. RNLI crews from Hoylake and New Brighton were involved in the search for Haydn and, since this tragic incident, both Megan and her sister Brogan have worked with the RNLI to become drowning prevention advocates and promote water safety messaging.  

At the launch event, Megan spoke of the devasting effect that drowning has had on her family and how greater global action is vital to reduce drowning rates around the world.  

Other speakers at the launch event were the Ambassadors of Ireland and Bangladesh to the UN and representatives from the Black Swimming Association.  

The full recording of the launch event is available to view.