A total of 336 people drowned or nearly drowned during the 2024 swimming season in Israel, despite the ongoing war, according to data released by Israeli emergency rescue service Magen David Adom on October 31, 2024.
This is a 37% increase from 2023, when 226 people drowned or nearly drowned during the swimming season.
A total of 54 drownings were fatal in 2024, Magen David Adom reported, an increase from 50 in the year 2023. Another 8 people were pulled from the water in critical condition and needed resuscitation.
A total of 189 drownings occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, 28 in the Dead Sea, 26 in Lake Kinneret, 12 in the Red Sea, 52 in public pools, 43 in private pools, 8 in guesthouse pools, 1 in a decorative pool 4 in water reservoirs, 1 in the Yarkon River, 1 in the Jordan River and 1 in the Sakhne hot spring, according to Magen David Adom.
A total of 74% of the people who drowned were male, versus 26% who were female. The age group with the highest representation was children up to age 10, who accounted for 26% of all drownings; followed by teens aged 10-19, with 18% percent; and young adults aged 20-29, who accounted for 17%.
The overwhelming majority of drownings involving children under 10 occurred in swimming pools (73 cases out of 88 in total).
In contrast, the overwhelming majority of drownings involving teens and young adults (ages 10-29) occurred in the Mediterranean Sea (43 out of 63 cases for teens, and 43 out of 60 cases for young adults).
The 2024 bathing season began on April 15 and ended October 31.
The Israel Life Saving Federation works to prevent drownings at beaches and other bodies of water in Israel by focusing on water safety education, prevention, ocean knowledge and confidence in the water for children and adults starting from age 7, and teaches beach rescue skills for teens and adults.
Beachgoers wishing to bathe safely at the beach should swim only on recognized beaches with a lifeguard, during the lifeguards' working hours. Bathers should not enter the water in the dark, or when inebriated.
Read more about safety tips while bathing at Israel's beaches here.
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