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World Drowning Prevention Day – uniting to reach further
World Drowning Prevention Day was marked in more than 80 countries worldwide in 2026, with new countries including Burkina Faso and Zambia joining efforts to raise awareness of drowning risks and lifesaving interventions.
The RNLI is immensely proud to support the continued growth of World Drowning Prevention Day. Having played a key role in securing the adoption of the day by the United Nations in 2021, we continue to work with partners around the world to raise awareness, drive action and prevent unnecessary drowning deaths.
We are pleased to share some of the activities organised by RNLI global partners.
In Bangladesh
Thousands of people across Bangladesh participated in World Drowning Prevention Day activities led by the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB).
Activities throughout July included awareness rallies, community discussions, drawing and swimming competitions, and first response training. More than 700 stakeholders, including government officials, teachers, students, parents and community leaders, took part.
SeaSafe showcases lifesaving impact in Cox's Bazar
On 25 July, the SeaSafe project organised a public awareness rally in Cox's Bazar, bringing together local authorities, lifeguards, volunteers and community members. Lifeguards delivered rescue demonstrations and shared lifesaving experiences with local media.
Since 2014, SeaSafe lifeguards have rescued 1,043 tourists, delivered water safety messages to more than five million beach visitors, and provided first aid to hundreds of people. While 76 drowning incidents have occurred outside lifeguard service areas over the past 12 years, none have been recorded within SeaSafe lifeguard zones.
Local leaders support drowning prevention
Through the Nirapode Bhasa project, CIPRB partnered with local administrations in Bakerganj and Taltoli to organise rallies, discussions and children's competitions. A total of 360 students participated in drawing and swimming competitions focused on water safety.
Local leaders praised the programme's contribution to reducing child drowning and highlighted the importance of community action, swimming education and child supervision. The project also trained 18 Village Injury Prevention Committee members in first response skills.
In Tanzania
RNLI partner EMEDO marked the sixth World Drowning Prevention Day through two events in Mwanza. The first was a workshop bringing together government officials, development partners, community leaders, fisheries stakeholders, the National Drowning Prevention Network, and the media to address drowning as a major public health issue.
Guest of Honour Mr. Henry Mwaijage, Assistant Administrative Secretary of Mwanza Region, emphasized that drowning is preventable and requires coordinated action from governments, communities, and development partners. Discussions focused on implementing Tanzania’s National Multi-Sector Drowning Prevention Strategy, promoting community-led safety initiatives, and increasing public awareness, particularly among fishing communities around Lake Victoria.
Speaking at a second event to mark World Drowning Prevention Day held on the shores of Lake Victoria, RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes highlighted the devastating reality that around 300,000 people drown every year worldwide, equivalent to one death every two minutes. He emphasised that drowning often affects the most vulnerable, particularly children and fishers, and stressed that while anyone can drown, nobody should.
The message underscored that drowning is not an unavoidable accident, but a preventable public health issue. For communities around Lake Victoria, these losses are deeply personal, impacting families, children, and livelihoods.
The event called for collective action from governments, partners, communities, educators, parents, and fishers to improve water safety through measures such as lifejacket use, safety training, and checking weather forecasts. The key message was that preventing drowning is a shared responsibility, and through collaboration, education, and investment in proven solutions, lives can be saved.
In Cambodia
RNLI partner Hile Teuk Kampuchea, Cambodia marked World Drowning Prevention Day through a national campaign delivered with UNICEF Cambodia and the Ministry of Interior.
Around 500 people, including government representatives, students, teachers, parents and community members, participated in activities on 27 July. The programme featured swimming lessons, water safety education and practical CPR training.
The event highlighted the value of partnership working in helping communities build the knowledge and skills needed to stay safe around water.
In India
Recognising lifesavers and strengthening drowning prevention
RNLI partner Child in Need Institute (CINI) organised activities across West Bengal to highlight the role of community responders, emergency services and evidence-based advocacy in preventing drowning deaths.
Community responders Manju and Sonamoni were recognised for helping rescue a two-year-old child found unconscious in a village pond. CINI also honoured five Kolkata Police personnel and members of the River Traffic Guard for their lifesaving work during water emergencies.
Using evidence to drive action
Media coverage highlighted the scale of drowning in India, which the World Health Organization estimates accounts for 17% of the global drowning burden, with children in rural areas particularly at risk.
Coverage also referenced a 2025 statewide survey published in BMJ Global Health, co-authored by CINI researchers, which estimated around 9,191 fatal drownings annually in West Bengal, with 45% of victims aged 1 to 9 years.
CINI promoted The Silent Truth, a media compendium documenting 907 drowning-related news reports across West Bengal, highlighting the extent of under-reporting in many communities.
Community-based prevention activities
To date, CINI has trained more than 8,000 community members and frontline workers in CPR and emergency response and delivered 74 awareness and prevention events across West Bengal. This work has been funded by the Laerdal Foundation and the RNLI.
Activities included swimming and water safety education, CPR demonstrations, rallies, theatre performances and child-led awareness initiatives. The Kolkata event also featured demonstrations of Float to Live, safe rescue techniques and CPR.
At the United Nations
Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day, the RNLI organised an event with the governments of Ireland, Bangladesh, Fiji, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Monaco at a United Nations High-Level Political Forum event in New York to discuss global solutions to reduce drowning. Alongside the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Bournemouth University, the RNLI showcased its award-winning buoyancy design project, which was launched in Tanzania and recently named 'Project of the Year' at the Global Search and Rescue Awards.
The initiative focuses on developing locally manufactured buoyancy devices to help reduce drowning risks among artisanal fishing communities across East Africa. The event also highlighted the potential impact of the first Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention, published in 2025 by the Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention, of which the RNLI is a key member. Delegates from the CDC Foundation and Y USA also attended, reinforcing shared water safety messages and the importance of international collaboration in preventing drowning worldwide.