Drowning globally is a public health challenge requiring a range of strategies and approaches for prevention. Drowning prevention is a wicked challenge with many moving parts.

This presentation aims to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical strategies in drowning prevention, offering insights into tools and methodologies that can facilitate impactful, sustainable solutions using data and case studies.

A system approach requires a complex understanding of drowning and the wider factors that influence why people drown, how prevention can occur and the impact that changes in the system can have.

WHO, in their ‘Preventing drowning: an implementation guide’, recommends 6 interventions and 4 strategies to support drowning prevention. While some of the interventions are interrelated, e.g., providing a safe space away from water for preschool children and installing barriers, each will require a systems approach to be successful.

For example, installing a barrier sounds easy and straightforward. However, firstly, we need to understand who the barrier is intended for; primarily, we use barriers for children who are under 5-years as they are less likely to understand and follow rules and do not have the cognition to understand risk. Under 5-years is an age where there are a lot of changes from baby to crawling to climbing. So, we need to make sure that the barrier is hard to climb. Thus, we need to have material that makes it hard to climb, and we need to think about the height as the higher the barrier, the less likely children can scale it. When then need to think about the supply of material, who will install and the cost. We then need to think about where to place the barrier, who maintains the barrier and how often. We need to educate people about the value and use of the barrier; this may require a public education campaign with television or radio. And so on.

Systems thinking is crucial in addressing the multifaceted challenge of drowning prevention. It involves a comprehensive understanding of the relationships, norms, and policies influencing the issue, requiring the collaboration of various stakeholders, from caregivers to national authorities.