New national strategy aims to tackle drowning as a public health priority

Water safety organisations have launched a new national strategy to reduce drowning deaths, describing drowning as an ongoing public health challenge that claims more lives than fire, flooding or knife crime but often receives less attention.

The strategy, launched by Water Safety England, sets out measures to improve water safety over the next decade. Proposed actions include ensuring every child has access to swimming and water safety education, increasing public awareness of the risks associated with open water, and improving understanding of how climate change may influence water-related hazards.

According to Water Safety England, there were 2,306 water-related deaths in England between 2019 and 2023, with 42% classified as accidental. The majority of accidental drowning victims were male, and incidents were most common during the summer months.

The strategy was launched as schools break for the summer holidays and follows a series of recent water-related fatalities across the UK. Public health organisations and water safety charities are encouraging people to understand the risks of swimming in open water, particularly during periods of hot weather when more people visit rivers, lakes and the coast.

Water Safety England said the long-term aim is to reduce preventable drowning deaths through education, collaboration and greater public awareness, positioning drowning prevention as an important public health issue rather than solely a water safety concern.

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