Most drownings happened in swimming pools, especially private ones
More than 50 children and teenagers drowned in Portugal between 2020 and 2023, according to the Association for the Promotion of Child Safety (APSI).
The association is currently promoting a campaign with GNR police until September 30 to raise awareness among families of the importance of water safety, especially at beaches, rivers, dams, swimming pools, and water tanks.
Data from APSI shows that 55 children and young people died from drowning during the four-year period: 14 in 2020, 12 in 2021, 19 in 2022, and 10 in 2023, according to figures from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Of these deaths, 19 were children aged 4 or younger, 4 were between 5 and 9 years old, 8 were between 10 and 14, and 24 were teenagers aged 15 to 19.
APSI also reported that most drownings happened in swimming pools, particularly private ones, based on cases reported in the media.
“In general, the number of deaths and hospitalisations of children and young people due to drowning has gone down over the past few decades – from 28 deaths in 2002 to 10 in 2023, and from 49 hospitalisations to 10 in the same period,” APSI said.
However, between 2020 and 2023, the average number of drowning deaths per year rose to 14 – compared to an average of 7.3 in the three years before that.
“This fact, combined with the higher number of fatal and non-fatal drowning cases reported in the press over the last five years, seems to indicate, contrary to what had been happening, a trend towards an increase in the number of deaths by drowning,” the association said.
APSI also noted a growing number of calls to the emergency line 112 for drowning-related incidents, including diving accidents, during the years 2020 to 2023.
In 2024, APSI tracked 12 drowning cases reported in the press, 7 of which were fatal.
“The number of reported drowning cases in the past five years, especially fatal ones, has been higher than in previous years. This may indicate an increase in fatal drowning cases in recent years,” it added.
