International Lifeguard Appreciation Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Drowning

Annually, International Lifeguard Appreciation Day is observed on July 31. It is a day dedicated to recognising and appreciating those professionals who are responsible for ensuring that pool facilities and beaches are secure for visitors and that they, too, are guarded while they enjoy a swim. Lifeguards devote not only their time but also their lives to ensuring the safety of swimmers. They instruct and maintain constant vigilance over visitors to prevent injuries and respond to life-threatening emergencies.

The background of International Lifeguard Appreciation Day

International Lifeguard Appreciation Day was first observed in 2020. Ellis & Associates, a company specialising in aquatic safety and risk management, established the day on July 31, 2020, in order to raise appreciation and awareness for the tireless efforts of lifeguards in ensuring the safety of pool users.

More than a century ago, the need for lifeguards arose as a result of the rising number of fatalities and injuries in aquatic facilities. Swimming became popular in 19th-century America, which saw the proliferation of recreational facilities. But as these facilities expanded, the number of drowning incidents increased. Approximately 9,000 individuals reportedly drown each year. To prevent these mishaps, resorts implemented lifelines in their pools, but users either found them too difficult to grasp or did not notice them in time. Even though a rescue board was subsequently installed, it failed to serve its intended purpose.

As efforts to decrease the number of drownings increased, some communities hired police officers to serve as rescue squads at aquatic facilities. This measure, however, resulted in a reduction in the number of law enforcement officers present when necessary. Consequently, local governments decided to employ water rescue specialists. Eventually, the term ‘lifeguard’ became associated with these men, and in 1912, the Young Men’s Christian Association established a service to prevent drownings. In 1914, the American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Corps was established to train swimmers in lifesaving and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R. ). The taught swimmers were deployed as lifeguards in their respective communities. Also, devices were devised to aid victims of drowning. The famous rescue tube invented by Pete Peterson in 1935 is an example of this. Today, almost all recreational facilities and beaches employ multiple lifeguards who collaborate to reduce the number of drowning incidents to an absolute minimum.

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5 FRIGHTFUL FACTS ABOUT DROWNING

By the time a potential rescuer reaches a drowning victim, it is too late for rescue.

Drowning is the third leading unintentional cause of mortality worldwide.

Annually, an estimated 300,000 people die from drowning around the globe.

Children aged one to nine and adult males are most susceptible to drowning.

No matter their gender or age, everyone is susceptible to drowning.

INTERNATIONAL LIFEGUARD APPRECIATION DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	July 31	Monday
2024	July 31	Wednesday
2025	July 31	Thursday
2026	July 31	Friday
2027	July 31	Saturday