Why it matters: More than 236,000 people worldwide lose their lives to drowning each year, with many deaths preventable through following basic water safety advice.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is joining the global call to action today for World Drowning Prevention Day – an annual awareness campaign led by the World Health Organisation to highlight the devastating impact of drowning and promote life-saving prevention steps.
In 2024, there were 136 accidental water-related deaths recorded in England, compared to 157 the year before. Last year, 61% of these occurred in inland waterways such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, and quarries, often outside of designated swimming areas.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the peak months for drowning are May, then August, followed by July, as warmer weather entices more people into water.
What to do (and not do): The Float to Live technique involves lying on your back with your arms and legs stretched out like a star, staying calm, and controlling your breathing if you fall into water unexpectedly.
Other crucial safety advice includes only swimming where clearly marked safe, never swimming alone, always supervising children near water, and wearing lifejackets during water sports. The service warns of cold-water shock risks even in summer, when cold water can cause people to gasp and struggle for breath.
In emergencies, people should not attempt rescues unless a lifebuoy is available and should call 999 immediately, asking for the fire service for inland water incidents or the coastguard for coastal emergencies.
What they're saying: Aeneas Postlethwaite, Water Safety Lead at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "While it is encouraging to see that the number of accidental water-related deaths has reduced between 2023 and 2024, it is deeply tragic that many of those that have occurred could have been prevented if water safety advice had been followed, which is why we are so keen to support awareness initiatives like World Drowning Prevention Day."
He continued: "Our work isn't just about responding to incidents – it's also about preventing them. That's why we're so committed to sharing safety guidance with the Suffolk community whenever we can."
Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, said: "Drowning can happen quickly and often without warning. On World Drowning Prevention Day, we want to remind people that a few small safety decisions can prevent a tragedy. Please enjoy Suffolk's stunning waters responsibly — and help spread the word that drowning is preventable."
The bottom line: To support its water rescue response across the county, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has invested in new state-of-the-art equipment this year, including two Zodiac ERB 400 powered rescue boats designed for rapid deployment, three Ionic Extreme inflatable sledges for fast-moving water rescues, and a custom-designed water rescue vehicle developed with frontline crews.
