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Around 300,000 people drown worldwide every year. It is a staggering number, yet this global problem isn’t receiving the serious attention it needs.
What are the causes
Why we want to end drowning worldwide
The scale of the global drowning problem is a human disaster too big for us to ignore.
Although the problem can seem overwhelming, the solutions are often low-cost, simple and have a high impact. A 2012 study found that swimming lessons in Bangladesh reduced a child’s chance of drowning by 93%. We’re helping to run a series of similar lessons in Bangladesh that cost just £21 per child.
Why the RNLI?
The RNLI’s work in the UK and Ireland remains a core focus of attention and resources. But we also believe it’s our duty to share years of lifesaving knowledge and experience, so that we can make a difference worldwide.
We aim to be a catalyst for drowning prevention, working with partners globally and in countries where drowning is a significant problem to raise awareness, widen the research base, and help develop solutions to save more lives.
Over 200 years ago, RNLI founder Sir William Hillary foresaw an organisation that extended its views ‘from our own immediate coasts to the most remote quarters of the globe’. Today, our international vision is of a world in which no-one should drown.
Make a donation
to help us towards this vision
Email us
if your organisation is looking for advice
Around 300,000 people drown every year, making this a killer that affects every country to some degree.
SEE THE COUNTRIES
Lifesavers worldwide can download free guides to help develop their own services.
Get the resources
With the causes of drowning varying widely, there is no single solution.
saving lives internationally
We can’t take on drowning alone - and we don’t have to. We’re working with a committed and diverse group of organisations to reach more people and save more lives worldwide.
WHO WE WORK WITH
The international drowning problem is vast, but we know that simple, inexpensive solutions are very effective. A small amount spent on overseas projects can change countless lives.
HOW WE’RE FUNDED