UN Calls on Countries to Take Action to Prevent Drowning

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. General Assembly encouraged all countries Wednesday to take action to prevent drownings, which have caused over 2.5 million deaths in the past decade, over 90% of them in low-income and middle-income countries.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Bangladesh and Ireland and adopted by consensus by the 193-member world body, is the first to focus on drowning. It establishes July 25 as "World Drowning Prevention Day." The assembly stresses that drowning "is preventable" using "low-cost interventions" and calls on countries to consider introducing water safety, swimming and first aid lessons as part of school curricula. It encourages nations to appoint "a national focal point for drowning prevention," develop countrywide prevention programs, and enact and enforce water safety laws. Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they do reflect global opinion.