At Royal Life Saving Australia, we are proud to be a global collaborator in drowning prevention, working alongside international partners to share expertise and implement life-saving initiatives. One such program is SwimSafe, a groundbreaking effort to reduce childhood drowning deaths in Kerala, India.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of injury-related deaths in India, with children aged 5-14 years at particularly high risk. In Kerala, with its extensive network of beaches and backwater riverways, the need for effective drowning prevention interventions is critical.

SwimSafe teaches survival swimming, a very basic level of swimming that has the single goal of preventing drowning. The curriculum covers fundamental water safety skills and basic rescue techniques.

As part of the initiative, our National Education Manager, Penny Larsen, and Nikki Thornhill, State Manager Education and Training for Royal Life Saving Queensland, visited Kerala to conduct training sessions for local swimming teachers.

“It’s inspiring to see this program come to life in Kerala,” Penny said. “The enthusiasm of the instructors was remarkable. They were eager to absorb new techniques and understand how to teach survival skills effectively.

“It’s fantastic that we can share our expertise with India and contribute to a global effort to prevent drowning. By equipping these trainers with knowledge and skills, we’re creating a long-lasting impact that will help create more resilient communities.”

The initiative also utilises portable pools, which can be assembled and dismantled for use in other locations. This is convenient, cost-effective, and has been used successfully in the SwimSafe Vietnam program.

Gloria Benny, The George Institute SwimSafe Coordinator, said “Basic swimming skills can always be improved. What is important is the core knowledge and survival skills training that [children] receive on how they can keep themselves safe in water – like staying afloat if they fall accidentally into a water body.”

SwimSafe Kerala is now at its midway point, with 300 – 350 children having received lessons at two schools in Ambalathara and Poojappura. Both students and teachers are excited about the progress they are making, with some students able to do strokes along with kicks by their fourth lesson.

We are proud to be part of this essential work, helping to foster a safer water environment and build a generation of confident, water-safe young people. The SwimSafe program is led by the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the George Institute for Global Health and the Government of Kerala.