Lifesaving interventions

With the causes of drowning varying widely, there is no single solution.

We’ve been working with our partners to find solutions that work for them - solutions that fit the skills and materials available in low-resource communities. We now have six tried-and-tested interventions that can either protect people from the risk of drowning, or rescue them safely from the water.

An Aquatic Survival trainer teaches children in the sea on Zanzibar

Our next step is to work with countries where these interventions will be most effective - but anyone can benefit from and add to our open-source materials.

From understanding the problem to measuring the impact of a particular project, research underpins every new intervention. This section also looks at some of the ways research guides what we do.

Flood rescue

As world sea levels rise and extreme weather becomes more common, countries and communities need to become more resilient to floods.

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2016 Future Leaders participants outside the RNLI College in Poole

Future Leaders in Lifesaving

With great leaders, organisations can develop and thrive without needing ongoing help.

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RNLI trained lifeguard patrolling Cox's Bazar beach in Bangladesh

Lifeguarding

In countries like Bangladesh, where a growing middle class are boosting domestic tourism, the need for beach lifeguard services is increasing.

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Tanzania Sea Rescue volunteers onboard their inshore lifeboat

Maritime search and rescue

When disaster strikes on the water, many low- and middle-income countries lack the resources, training and coordination to reach people in time.

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Research

Where existing data is poor, we need research to understand a country’s drowning problem - and to design interventions to tackle it.

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Bangladesh class room and students, teacher showing low cost equipment Bottle Ring

Sustainable lifesaving equipment

Drowning overwhelmingly affects countries with the fewest resources to prevent it. Many communities and organisations struggle because they don’t have access to the rescue equipment they need.

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Children swimming in a river on Zanzibar

Swim survival and water safety

Learning to swim is a rite of passage enjoyed by many children in developed countries, particularly those in coastal communities. Children in low-and middle-income countries may miss out on this lifesaving learning.

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