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She recognizes the World Health Organization as a major concern for the public health. Every year on July 25, the day of sinking in the world raises awareness of the global tool, and especially in the weak communities, promotes life -saving strategies. Sinking is a huge but often ignorant of the public health problem, as it claims about 300,000 lives globally every year, with children and young people most affected. About 25 % of children are under the age of five in drowning deaths. This is the fourth largest cause of death in children under the age of 1-4 and the third among children 5-14. Statistics around the world show variations.
According to the CDC, there are 4,000 unintentional drowning in the United States every year – which means that 11 people die from drowning every day in the United States. On the other hand, 92 % of these deaths occur in amazing low and middle -income countries. In this regard, Pakistan is facing an irreversible burden. The country ranks sixth in the world in terms of population and is a major support of the deaths in the South Asian region. WHO data suggests that in 2020, the sinking of all deaths in Pakistan is 0.37 %, with a population of 2.12 per 100,000 population in the age -old mortality rate, which is ranked 110th globally. An observational study published in the Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences in 2025 highlights a high number of deaths in the surrounding areas of the Chenab River, most of which are accidental and are found during monsoon and summer seasons. Young men aged 11-20 are mostly affected, highlighting their growing weakness.
So, what is drowning? Sinking occurs when a person’s nose and mouth are submerged in water for a long time, making it impossible to breathe. When sinking is fast and quietly, there is only a few seconds of window where you can see some signs. It doesn’t look like it is in the movies. There is no talk of spraying and screaming, and the drowning person does not wave his arm. Instead, they are using them to help keep their heads above the water. If an adult or child is drowning, they are significantly silent, because the drowning person is unable to raise a voice. The person’s head may be behind or lower in the water, and his eyes may be glasses or closed. The person may be hyper ventilating or harassing, trying to swim, but is running water, struggling to understand whatever physical item or structure is near, or his face swims down.
Sinking is a major but prevention of death, especially in low and middle -income countries (LMIC), where the burden is the highest in rural communities. There are some dangerous factors that increase the possibility of a person’s sinking. One of the major contributors lacks swimming skills, especially in children and young people, which leave them especially weak. In many LMICs, people rely on open water sources for daily needs, which increases their risk. Inadequate surveillance, especially for children under the age of five, increases the risk. Other high -risk conditions include floods and natural disasters, which increase the risk of sinking through migration, poor awareness and limited capacity. Alcohol and drug use, especially in adults, and epilepsy, are also helpful in the incidence of sinking. Professional risks also play a role. Individuals working in fishing, transportation and other water -related jobs often lack protective gear and training. Additional risk factors include swimming in arrogant water, sudden climate changes or showing strong streams and swimming without monitoring or life guards. Poor catastrophic preparations, limited access to safe water and increasing problems such as weak rescue infrastructure. The social economic impact on families and healthcare systems is profound in these areas.
There are necessary steps to improve flood risk management and increase public awareness.
Effective measures to prevent sinking include providing swimming lessons, raising awareness through community campaigns, ensuring safe access to water and enforcing water safety legislation. The World Health Organization supports community -based interferences such as avoiding access to water reservoirs, creating safe -stricken sports safe places, teaching school -age children swimming and water safety skills, and preventing members of the society in preventing and rehabilitation techniques. There are necessary steps to improve flood risk management and increase public awareness.
Parents’ supervision plays an important role. Swimming can offer AIDS such as flutes, pool noodles and inflammatory ring entertainment, but should never be relied on as an alternative to close surveillance. When near water – children should always be viewed carefully. In areas of public swimming, parents can take children’s monitoring, but the rule should always be clear: children should not swim without a responsible adult, whether they are old or strong swimming.
Swimming lessons are important. Every child should learn to walk, swim, and swim in only designated safe areas. Water risks, such as obstruction of a home or club’s swimming pond and pond, can significantly reduce access to young children and reduce the risk. First aid and life -saving training is equally important. Even if non -swimmers are equipped with the basic capabilities of emergency response, can help prevent drowning deaths. For example, those who have the first aid know that when drowning is a laryng spasm (a brick of vocal cords), immediate action is important, as it can be trapped in the lungs. Supporting the neck and clipping the nose to 3-5 aggressive rescue respiratory supply can help open the airway. In addition, if there is no or weak pulse, the CPR should be started without delay.
Personal flight devices, such as life jackets and boyne aids, booting, flooding situation, are essential for entertainment swimming in open water. These devices keep individuals faster and reduce the risk of sinking, especially for children and inexperienced swimmers. With coordinated efforts and social education, many drowning deaths and injuries can be prevented.
The absence of mandatory measures to prevent drowning in the country’s top -risk areas remains a serious concern, explaining the need for target intervention, the need for water safety infrastructure, public education and the implementation of strong policy.
The author is a family physician at Evercare Hospital in Lahore.
