Child Drowning Deaths Drop With Swimming Lessons

Swimming lessons have played a crucial role in reducing child drowning deaths by an average of 5 to 7% annually over the past decade, according to a leading figure from an international non-profit organization. Doan Thu Huyen, country director of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, highlighted Vietnam's progress during a speech at the World Drowning Prevention conference held in Egypt on November 21.

Previously, the Vietnam Ministry of Health reported more than 3,000 child drowning deaths each year before 2015. However, this number has gradually decreased to approximately 2,000 in recent years. Huyen emphasized that the consistent decline in drowning deaths is a result of effective intervention programs implemented over the last seven years.

In 2018, Vietnam launched a child-drowning prevention program with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. This initiative focused on providing swimming lessons and basic water safety training to children in several provinces, including Dong Thap, An Giang, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, and Da Nang City. Initially targeting 50,000 children, the program is expected to reach over 63,000 by 2025, with more than 80,000 children trained in water safety skills.

In these program areas, the percentage of children who can swim has increased from 14% to over 32%, and drowning deaths have dropped by 16%.

Doan Thu Huyen at the World Drowning Prevention conference held in Egypt on November 21, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Le Nga

Despite these improvements, drowning remains one of the leading causes of death among Vietnamese children. Children aged five to 14 are the most affected, with many coming from disadvantaged households. The mortality rate among boys is twice that of girls. However, experts at the conference pointed out that Vietnam only records drownings that result in death, omitting non-fatal cases. As a result, long-term impacts such as neurological damage and disability are difficult to assess.

The World Health Organization estimates that around 300,000 drowning deaths occur globally each year, predominantly involving children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Drowning is considered a preventable public health crisis.

Experts attribute the high incidence of child drownings in Vietnam to limited awareness among families, communities, and society. Many children cannot swim or lack basic water safety knowledge, often unaware of the risks associated with swimming or playing near rivers. There is also a general shortage of swimming facilities and trained instructors, with few schools offering swimming lessons due to a lack of pools and equipment.

Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, a former Vietnamese Olympic swimmer, works as a community swimming coach after retiring from the professional scene. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

Dinh Anh Tuan, head of the health ministry’s Administration of Maternal and Children’s Affairs, emphasized that while drowning is a serious risk, it is preventable through targeted interventions and community involvement. In July, the ministry launched a national campaign to engage authorities, parents, and the public in preventing child drownings. The campaign focuses on water safety education and improving safe swimming programs in schools and communities.

Vandana Shah, vice president of the U.S.-based Global Health Advocacy Incubator, praised Vietnam as a global example in implementing drowning-prevention programs. She stated that her organization will continue to support Vietnam through technical assistance and encourage authorities to maintain these programs to reduce drowning-related deaths.

At the conference, her non-profit conducted training sessions for journalists from Vietnam, the U.S., Bangladesh, and the Philippines to enhance media involvement in child-drowning prevention efforts.