Tag: cambodia

Today, 25th July, marks the very first
World Drowning Prevention Day! 💦

This day was declared as part of the UN resolution on global drowning prevention and will be held every 25th July, with the first one in 2021.

An estimated 236,000 people drown every year, and drowning is among the ten leading causes of death for children and youth aged 1-24 years. More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells and domestic water storage vessels in low- and middle-income countries, with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected.’

SWIM Cambodia is a drowning prevention program based in Cambodia. SWIM targets children & young people who are most at risk of drowning by providing the following • Water Safety Education • Safe Rescue & CPR skills • Raising awareness of drowning issues in Cambodia • Survival Swimming Lessons (hopefully in 2022)

Drowning is a process which has three outcomes: Survival, Survival with an injury, or Death. When a child dies it is always tragic but deaths that could have been prevented are especially distressing. The huge wait of grief from child drowning grief hangs over families from the poorest communities of the world.

On average, 6 children die each day from drowning in Cambodia.

At SWIM Cambodia, we train volunteers and teachers in the delivery of water safety, safe rescue and CPR. Once education messages have been adapted to the local context, they are simple to teach and pass-on, which can be taught in the classroom and other community venues.

I’ve seen how children, young people and parents/carers enjoy 😊 these lessons as well as teachers and trainers loving their work teaching messages and lifesaving skills. Thanks to Leakena and Neath, who talked in the videos below and coordinate volunteer training for SWIM Cambodia. Along with other volunteers in the team, they give their time and expertise freely to save children’s lives. 🙏🏽

Please make some kind of commitment today, big or small to support drowning prevention. There are loads of things you can do to support drowning prevention: Raise awareness, campaign for water safety education in schools, give a pound, talk to others, start a fundraiser, write a song, make some art, share a post, gain more knowledge, find out more, volunteer some time and skills to support charities …Use this opportunity to help influence the safety of children in and around water. 💦 Please use this opportunity to do something to help save lives!

Happy World Drowning Prevention Day! Let’s make it safe and happy for children.

Every drowning is preventable. Support SWIM Cambodia to save lives