Immediate Water Safety Action Urged Amid Spike In Drownings

The Saint Lucia Life Saving Association (SLLSA) has expressed alarm over the growing number of drownings in the country, especially among men under 35. According to the association, 2024 has seen a disturbing rise in such tragedies, highlighting a critical gap in national policy and strategy to address water safety and drowning prevention. “The need for a national water safety policy has never been more critical,” the SLLSA declared. An SLLSA release referred to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) published in 2020, indicating that drowning deaths in Saint Lucia reached 9, accounting for 0.68% of total deaths. “The age-adjusted death rate stands at 4.88 per 100,000 of the population, placing Saint Lucia at #28 globally—a startling statistic for a small island nation already grappling with capacity shortages,” the release said. It noted that Saint Lucia’s appeal as a rapidly growing visitor destination is mainly due to its captivating beaches and waterfront attractions. However, the SLLSA lamented that despite recorded incidents involving both locals and visitors, a comprehensive water safety strategy or established demarcations for various types of recreational water activities still need to be developed. “This lack of oversight and planning is a serious concern for the SLLSA,...