Every year 20,000 people drown in Europe, alcohol plays a role in one in four | News

Worldwide, an estimated 236,000 people die by drowning each year. Victims of natural disasters or accidents involving water transport are not included.

The counter for the European region stands at 20,000 victims per year. “That may seem like a small number compared to global figures, but drowning is still the second leading cause of death among children (after birth defects, ed.) between the ages of five and 14,” says Kluge.

Drowning also exposes inequality in this region, he continues. “Of the 53 countries that make up the European region, most of the victims are in the eastern regions. The number of victims there can be up to twenty times higher.” Men and children are particularly at risk, according to the figures.

Kluge certainly does not want to leave unmentioned the victims of boat disasters in the Mediterranean Sea, 34,000 people since 2014, but also points to the drowning deaths that make the news much less often.

“Very often men, women and children drown quietly and alone, without publicity. For example, they jump unsupervised into an unfenced swimming pool or get caught in a strong current, which they cannot get out with swimming skills alone. They engage in water sports without the protection of a life jacket, or fall into the water on their way home. The variations are endless,” says Kluge.

With the World Day to Prevent Drowning, the General Assembly of the United Nations wants to call on governments to better prevent these types of accidents by, among other things, focusing on more swimming safety.

Kluge also warns of an increase in drowning deaths from intentional self-harm. He calls it a particularly worrying crisis that should be given full priority by national governments.

He also points out that the European region has the highest alcohol consumption per capita of all WHO regions. Alcohol is associated with 26 percent of all drowning deaths in that European region, ranging from 3 percent to over 55 percent depending on the country.

The organization calls for more preventive measures, but at the same time realizes that this is quite a challenge, especially for countries such as Ireland, with more than three thousand kilometers of coastline. Nevertheless, the WHO believes in prevention and is working on a report with measures and rescue strategies from which countries can draw inspiration. That will come next year, in the meantime you can go here for tips on how to swim safely.