A World Free from Drowning
Our vision for a safer world
Drowning is disproportionally affecting children, youth and disadvantaged populations.
300,000
Lives Lost to Drowning Annually
40%
OF DROWNING DEATHS OCCUR AMONG CHILDREN <15
90%
Of Drowning Deaths Occur in low- and middle-income c0untries
Source: World Health Organization. (2021). Global status report on drowning prevention 2021. World Health Organization.
25th July
World Drowning Prevention Day
World Drowning Prevention Day (WDPD) is a global United Nations declared day that raises awareness of drowning as a major but preventable cause of death and calls on communities, governments and organisations worldwide to act.
Activity is coordinated by The World Health Organization (WHO).
World Drowning Prevention Day 2025
Your Story Can Save a Life
As part of the World Health Organization’s World Drowning Prevention Day 2025, the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) is calling on its global network to embrace storytelling as a powerful tool to help reduce the number of lives lost to drowning each year.
Get Involved in World Drowning Prevention Day
Visit the WHO website to access campaign resources and find out how you can support this important event.
How We Make an Impact
World Conference on Drowning Prevention
Every two years, the International Life Saving Federation brings together its member organisations and the world’s leading researchers, practitioners and policy makers to present and discuss the latest research and thinking in drowning prevention, lifesaving, rescue, water safety, lifesaving sport and related fields.
The most recent WCDP was hosted in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Click through to access the Event Program and Abstracts Book.
ILS Academy
An interdisciplinary centre dedicated to advancing global excellence in drowning prevention, water safety, water rescue, lifeguarding, lifesaving, and lifesaving sport. ILS Academy provides services to member organisations, partners, and individual members to achieve best practices.
Training & Certification
ILS provides a global framework for high-quality training and certification in lifesaving, ensuring that lifeguards and water safety professionals meet internationally recognized standards. Through its certification system, ILS evaluates and endorses national qualifications, promotes consistency in lifesaving competencies worldwide, and supports organizations in aligning their training with best practices.
Program of the Month
lifesaving Program of the Month
Vietnamese, Singaporean and Australian lifesavers cooperate to promote lifesaving in Danang and South East Asia.
The five-day program was a joint effort of the Son Tra Eco-Tourism Sea Board, Surf Life Saving Vietnam, South-East Asian Lifesaving Network, Surf Life Saving Australia through Cudgen Surf Life Saving Club, and the Singapore Life Saving Society.
you could inspire others
We want to share real stories from our members. If you organisation has a strong drowning prevention program, please send us your case study. We may feature it as our Program of the Month.