Lajeado, 13 de dezembro de 2024 – Each year, close to 300,000 people drown worldwide. In the Americas, more than 17,000 deaths are recorded. These data come from the Global status report on drowning prevention by the World Health Organization (WHO), presented this Friday (13/12), which provides an overview of one of the leading causes of death among children, adolescents, and young adults aged 1 to 24 years.
In Brazil, the report indicates a drowning rate of 2.1 deaths per 100,000 population, with approximately 70% of these deaths occurring in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Dr. David Szpilman, the Secretary General of the Brazilian Society of Aquatic Rescue (Sobrasa), emphasizes the importance of implementing measures to improve safety in municipal water bodies. According to him, education is a fundamental pillar for preventing drowning.
“This includes educating the population to recognize risks, know how to prevent them, and provide help without becoming a secondary victim. Of the 15 Brazilians who drown daily, two die trying to help another person in danger in the water,” he warns.
Dr. Szpilman also highlights the importance of lifeguard work: “In areas without lifeguards, the risk of drowning is 60 times higher.” Sobrasa was one of the entities in Brazil that contributed to the collection and submission of drowning data to the WHO report.
Preventive actions can significantly reduce accidents, and it is crucial to understand local realities from a multisectoral perspective. Letícia Cardoso, Director of the Department of Epidemiological Analysis and Surveillance of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Brazilian Ministry of Health, notes that the report allowed for greater collaboration between government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society to create a national picture of the situation.
“The report revealed the magnitude of this problem alongside data from information systems, showing that drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents,” she added.
Drownings can be prevented.
In the state of Tocantins, in the northern region of Brazil, firefighters lead various educational, preventive, and rescue initiatives, in collaboration with municipalities and institutions.
According to data from Sobrasa, Tocantins ranks fifth among Brazilian states with the highest drowning rates, recording 4.64 cases per 100,000 population.
Among the highlighted actions are the Botinho do Tocantins and Sobrasa Kids projects, which combine recreational activities with education on drowning prevention, reaching children and adolescents in several regions of the state.
These initiatives are part of a broader effort led by the Firefighters Command, including detailed analysis of drowning data, risk mapping, training, and signage of safe swimming areas in the state.
Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Luiz Soares da Silva, who leads these initiatives in the state and is responsible for mapping and analyzing data, emphasizes the importance of understanding local realities to guide interventions.
“A significant number of the state’s beach areas have defined swimming zones, informational signage, and lifeguards, which considerably enhances safety for the public” he asserts.
In addition to training lifeguards, firefighters provide standardized signage models to municipalities in the state. Lieutenant Colonel Soares also underscores the need for integrated actions.
“Improving the infrastructure of beaches and recreational areas in the state, combined with educational campaigns like the Botinho Project of Tocantins, can elevate coastal cities to the category of most resilient municipalities against drowning.”
Playful Learning
With a methodology adapted to different local realities, the Botinho Project of Tocantins began in 2023 and has already conducted six editions in various cities of the state: Pedro Afonso (2023 and 2024), Babaçulândia, Barra do Ouro, Filadélfia, and more recently in Lajeado on October 17 and 18, in collaboration with Sobrasa Kids.
Segredo Beach was chosen as the venue for activities in Lajeado, known as the “city of waters.” The initiative involved children and adolescents from a social program developed by the municipality in collaboration with the private sector, including after-school tutoring and sports activities like soccer.
Lenizia Costa, , municipal secretary of Tourism, highlighted the importance of the initiative in Lajeado: “Our municipality embraced the project because we have a strong connection with our waters and aim to be a reference in water safety. We also align preventive actions with environmental preservation initiatives.”
The Botinho Project, in partnership with Sobrasa Kids, combines playful learning with water safety. According to Corporal Eglison Abade dos Santos, the instructor of the activities, the goal is to teach children about water risks, safety limits, and the importance of informing their families: “Today, they graduate as junior little firefighters, ready to help in prevention,” he explained.
Activities include lessons on prevention and environmental preservation, like respecting signage and not littering on the beaches. Children participate in obstacle courses and simulations, and at the end, they receive medals.
The project begins with an evening meeting with children, parents, and guardians, where the objectives and guidelines for the next day are presented. The following day, children are taken to the beach to learn about the signs, participate in physical activities, and do a sand cleanup.
Even though the beach appeared clean, participants filled five trash bags, completing the challenge and contributing to the environment.
During the instructions, children and adolescents, accustomed to living in a municipality surrounded by rivers, received valuable lessons on water safety. In an activity, Corporal Abade asked, “If you are swimming and feel a cramp in your leg, what do you do?”
The children listened attentively as they learned that the first step is to remain calm. The instructor demonstrated the technique of rolling onto their back, cupping their hands like shells, and pushing against the water to move to safety. He emphasized, “A panicked person opens their hands and mouth, allowing water to enter, which makes escaping much more difficult.”
The instructor explains that keeping hands closed is strategic to prevent water from passing between the fingers, which makes it difficult for the person to swim and reach a safe place. He also shares stories of people who have experienced water accidents in the state to illustrate what should and should not be done.
In addition to teaching, the project encourages children to share what they have learned with their families and friends. “Now, you in the Botinho Project have a responsibility. Do you know what it is? To talk about prevention with your parents,” concludes Corporal Abade, highlighting the importance of spreading the safety messages.
Water Up to the Navel, Sign of Danger
As the children gathered at a spot on the beach, attentively listening to instructions for the next activity—a jet ski ride—a loud shout caught everyone’s attention. A few meters away, it seemed like someone was drowning. Before the onlookers could fully grasp what was happening, a lifeguard accompanying the activity ran into the water and rescued a young person. Upon reaching the shore, he applied first aid techniques.
It was then that the children and adolescents realized that despite the scare, it was a simulation. The rescued young person was João Pedro de Souza Nunes, 16 years old, a first-year high school student. Following the instructions, he pretended to be drowning, experiencing a simulated situation for the first time.
“At that moment, my heart was racing. I didn’t know the lifeguard would get there so quickly; if it had been a real case, I think I would have been saved. Everyone thought it was real, it was exciting,” João Pedro described.
In addition to the experience, João Pedro said he learned practical lessons: “Now we know what to do. We can throw something that floats to help the person. I learned a lot, even about how to preserve the environment and more.”
At another moment, Corporal Abade questioned the children again: “If the water is already up to the navel, what does that signal?”
“Danger!” they responded in unison, showing their clear understanding of the lesson.
The instructor took the opportunity to reinforce the warning: “You can step into a hole and sink. Did you know that there are people who have drowned even in buckets? It’s common, especially with young children.” Important lessons were also imparted, such as swimming in areas with lifeguards, asking them about the best spots to swim, and always obeying the signage.
Some parents who accompanied the activities highlighted the initiative’s importance. Daniele Souza do Nascimento, mother of Emanuel Souza, 8 years old, shared her experience:
“This initiative is very good, I loved it, especially because recently we went through an incident related to drowning. It affected us a lot. So, when it was announced in the group, I didn’t hesitate to attend, especially since he loves being in the water. This will be an incentive for him to pay more attention.”
At the end of the morning, the children enjoyed a swim at the beach and a jet ski ride.
Resilient Drowning Municipality
The collaboration between the Tocantins Botinho Project and Sobrasa Kids is part of a broader program by the Brazilian Society of Aquatic Rescue (Sobrasa) called Municipio Mais Resiliente em Afogamento (Resilient Drowning Municipality), which encourages municipal administrations to implement a series of interventions since 2015 to reduce the number of drownings.
Dr. David Szpilman, the Secretary-General of Sobrasa, explains that the main objective is to train the population to recognize risks and adopt preventive measures, especially in areas with rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
“The biggest challenge is convincing the population that drownings can happen to anyone. This could be children in pools or near home, surfers, fishermen, during transportation, among others. The idea is for all stakeholders to participate and collaborate together to implement a prevention program and make progress,” he emphasized.
Each municipality must meet specific criteria to be considered resilient, such as implementing personalized strategies and continuous monitoring by Sobrasa volunteers. With 5,500 volunteers distributed across the country, conducting about 13 daily actions, the program strengthens the culture of prevention, saves lives, and reduces the impact of this often-overlooked issue.
Inspired by the United Nations Resilient Municipality concept, the program was adapted to specifically address drowning. Unlike other initiatives, it aims to address the particularities of each municipality, mobilizing local communities to identify the main causes of drownings and implement targeted actions, such as prevention programs focused on children, surfers, fishermen, and boaters.
The Municipio Mais Resiliente em Aflogamento promotes a collaborative effort between municipalities, the Emergency Medical Service (SAMU), Civil Defense, firefighters, and other actors involved in local safety.
More information: https://sobrasa.org/programa-municipioresiliente-em-afogamento/