Every hour of every day, more than 30 people drown—totaling around 300,000 deaths globally each year. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death globally for children and young people aged 1-24 years. Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths.

World Drowning Prevention Day, declared through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution, is held annually on July 25. Through this global event, we remember lives lost due to drowning and aim to increase knowledge on safety in and around water. Drowning doesn’t have a single cause, or a single solution. But it can be prevented.

This year, the World Health Organization is inviting individuals, communities, and organizations to share personal stories—of survival, resilience, and innovation—to highlight the power of lived experiences in shaping safer practices around water. Watch the campaign video to learn more.

For resources and to learn more, visit www.who.int/campaigns/world-drowning-prevention-day/2025

The USLA offers safety tips aimed at natural bodies of water here: www.usla.org/safetytips