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On the occasion of World Prevention Day created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, the National Public Health Organization (EDY) tells the public about the latest epidemiological data on drowning and stresses that almost all deaths can be prevented.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 30 people lose their lives, drowning every hour, every day around the world. About half of them under the age of 29, while these deaths concern children under 5 years old. In his recent report on the global situation to prevent drowning, which was involved in Eddie, a significant decrease in the frequency of drowning in the world is recorded by 38% since 2000 (from 6.1 to 3.8 drowning per 100,000 population). Nevertheless, progress is as slow and inadequate to solve the problem around the world.
TO GreeceThe drowning frequency is estimated by 3.6 per 100,000 population. On average, over the past five years, 357 people have lost their lives in the aquatic environment every year Greece in leisure, in accordance with the data of the insurmountable Observatory Safe Water Sports, with which Eddie participates in the initiatives of drowning.
The vast majority of deaths occur at sea (99%), while 70% of the victims are men. On average, 72% of these deaths are due to drowning, 16% to unintentional causes, 11% of pathological causes and 1% accidents. The most vulnerable age group is people over 60 years old, which is 81% of deaths in our country.
In particular, in 2024, 395 people died in the aquatic environment of our country, participated in leisure activities (swimming, water sports, water leisure activities). Of the 395, 388, they died at sea, and the remaining 7 in the inner waters of the country (lakes, rivers, swimming tanks, etc.).
The vast majority of fatal accidents (98%) occurred near the coast, and not on the open sea during swimming (95%), while 66%of deaths during swimming occurred on beaches not protected by the rescuer. A month with the most fatal accidents was July (33%), followed by June (21%), while at 08: 00-10: 00, 12: 00-13: 00 and 14: 00-15: 00 the most deadly accidents (11%in each).
Edice advises the public:
– We learn to swim and strengthen children’s swimming
– Avoid swimming alone, but always with friends
– We enter and gradually leave the water
– We always swim next to the shore, where we press, and not until we are exhausted
– We swim only if they passed 2-3 hours after eating or drinking
– We avoid swimming in unknown waters
– We do not overestimate our strengths, and we always have a dubious environment when we go deep (for example, a life jacket, spaghetti)
– We always turn to our doctor if we have chronic health problems
– We constantly control small children
– We prefer the beaches with the rescuer
Swimming contributes to the human physical and mental well, improving the heart and heart function, balance, sleep quality, increased flexibility, joint protection, strengthening of muscles, weight control and stress.
Let’s enjoy the advantages of swimming and the sea, following the above safety rules and preventing the drowning, which can occur in only 20-60 seconds and at a depth of only 5 cm of water.
Eddie encourages the public to enter free electronic use of safe water sports, is available on the Internet and through portable devices for security functions (For example, if they have a rescuer, deep/small waters, etc.), more than 3400 beaches in Greece and Cyprus, legal operations for the rental of the sea, all hospitals, medical centers and ports with complete contact data, applicable safety rules and safety rules.