First Aid for Aquatic Safety: A new guideline project on drowning prevention

14/08/25

July marked the month of World Drowning Prevention Day, a crucial time to raise awareness on drowning as a major public health issue. While drowning mortality rates decrease, progress remains uneven: in Europe, the rate has dropped by 68% since 2000, but in Africa – where the highest rates are recorded – the rate has dropped by only 3%. 

First Aid for Aquatic Safety is a guideline project of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders and CEBaP, in collaboration with Mozambique Red Cross Society and other drowning prevention experts, aimed at developing a manual and training to support local fishing communities in sub-Saharan Africa in preventing and responding to water-related incidents. 

Guidelines are developed using our established evidence-based approach, on the basis of: 

• Local surveys in Mozambican fishing villages to identify needs;
• Scientific research aimed at answering research questions arising from the identified needs;
• Practical input from an international panel of experts;
• Translation of scientific information into concrete recommendations for laypeople, compiled in a manual.

The manual will be completed by 2026.