Drowning

Drowning happens when someone gets too much water in their lungs. It can happen in as little as an inch or two of water. Babies can drown in a sink or bathtub. Young children can drown in a bucket, a tank, or a shallow pond. People with seizure disorders are at higher risk in water. Drowning is quick and silent — often not the dramatic splashing shown in films.

India has one of the highest drowning burdens in the world — tens of thousands of deaths each year, most in rural and coastal areas. Children, young men swimming in rivers or open water, fisherfolk, and agricultural workers around ponds and canals are most affected.

Prevention:

• Supervise children at all times near any water — baths, buckets, wells, tanks, ponds, swimming pools
• Cover wells, tanks, and large buckets when not in use
• Fence around swimming pools
• Teach children to swim, ideally from young age — even basic water-safety skills reduce risk
• Do not swim or operate boats after drinking alcohol or taking sedatives
• Wear a life jacket on any boat, ferry, or during water activities
• Learn CPR — bystander CPR can save lives in the critical first few minutes after drowning

If you see someone drowning, call for help first, then try to reach them with a long stick, rope, or a floating object before entering the water yourself. Untrained rescuers entering the water often become second victims. In an emergency, dial 112.