Every year nearly a quarter of a million people lose their lives to drowning, and almost 82 000 of them are children aged 1 to 14 years.

Drowning is sudden, abrupt, and shocking, with people often not realizing it’s happening until it’s too late. What leads to drowning often happens in just a few seconds: A small child slipping unnoticed into a pond or pool on a sunny afternoon; Feeling invincible after a few drinks and jumping into the ocean for a swim; Accepting that one extra passenger on the boat, despite knowing it might capsize; Deciding it’s too much of a hassle to put on that lifejacket. So much can happen in a single moment. But with the right awareness and actions, what happens in those seconds can also be changed – for the better.