Serbia Faces Rising Drowning Risks as Swimming Season Begins

As Serbia braces for a heatwave and officially opens its swimming season, a concerning rise in drowning incidents casts a shadow over recreational water activities. Recent weeks have seen multiple tragedies, including the deaths of two men in the Tisza River, two boys aged 11 and 12 in Ćićevac, a fisherman in the Zapadna Morava River, and a girl in the Velika Morava River.

“

People overestimate their abilities, and that leads to problems. Swimming training should be introduced in schools, and we should talk more about this, as well as the issue where people do not wear life jackets on boats.

Professional divers and rescuers are emphasizing that drowning is a significant global cause of injury-related death across all age groups. Branislav Sadžaković, a professional diver and rescuer, highlighted that the swimming season inevitably brings an increase in drownings. He urged citizens to avoid swimming at unmarked beaches and to enter the water cautiously, warning against common misconceptions that skilled swimmers are immune to drowning.

Sadžaković explained that in about two-thirds of drowning cases, the victims were actually proficient swimmers who overestimated their abilities. He stressed the importance of swimming education in schools and public awareness campaigns. Proper preparation before entering the water is crucial. For individuals who have been sunbathing, it's advised to gradually cool down extremities before entering the water to prevent sudden blood vessel constriction, which can lead to heart or brain issues. A minimum of two hours should pass between meals and swimming.

“

People who have been sunbathing for a long time should wet their extremities first, and enter the water gradually because during sunbathing, blood vessels dilate, and upon sudden entry into the water, they constrict, leading to stroke or heart attack.

When swimming in open water, such as rivers and lakes, additional precautions are necessary. Rescuers advise checking water depth, currents, and potential underwater hazards. If caught in a current, the advice is not to fight it but to swim calmly with the flow, diagonally towards the shore. Alcohol and drug consumption near water bodies significantly increase the risk of drowning. The Belgrade Institute for Public Health also reminds the public that children are especially at risk and require constant supervision.

“

If you are caught by a water current, do not resist it and do not try to swim against its direction; instead, remain calm and swim downstream, diagonally towards the shore.