In the lead-up to World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, the IMRF spoke with Mr Wu Yue, Managing Director of the International Ocean Engineering Training Centre (SIOETC), about the challenges facing drowning prevention in China, and how collaboration with international partners is helping to drive real change.

For Mr Wu and the team at SIOETC, drowning prevention is more than a public safety issue, it’s a moral imperative. “China has thousands of kilometres of coastline and countless inland rivers and lakes,” he explains. “As climate change increases the frequency and severity of flood events, the risks continue to grow, especially for people with limited access to water safety education.”

SIOETC is a professional maritime safety training centre based in Shandong Province, delivering internationally recognised survival and rescue courses including OPITO,IOSH and GWO qualifications. But alongside its commercial training activity, the centre has increasingly focused on community-level engagement, particularly drowning prevention work with children and students.

“In many parts of China, especially in the north, swimming is not part of everyday life,” says Mr Wu. “Public infrastructure exists - pools, instructors, sports facilities - but with such a large population, there are still many people who never learn to swim or understand basic water safety.”

This year, SIOETC launched a new initiative in collaboration with several well-known universities, including China University of Petroleum and China University of Mining and Technology, to provide free drowning prevention training for students. Around 120 university students will come to SIOETC in July for internships and receive drowning prevention training. The sessions will cover topics such as identifying water-related risks, self-protection techniques, and emergency response methods. Designed as a scalable program, SIOETC has already submitted a proposal to expand the initiative to more universities and community settings.

The RNLI, a fellow IMRF member and global leader in water safety advocacy, is also supporting this work. The two organisations are collaborating to share training resources, raise awareness, and amplify each other’s messaging around drowning prevention.

The urgency of this mission is clear. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in China, particularly among children. According to Mr Wu, one of the most dangerous myths is the belief that swimming alone is enough to prevent drowning. “Some people mistakenly believe that if they can swim, they won’t drown,” he says. “However, in real-life situations, various unexpected factors such as water temperature, current, fatigue, and panic can lead to drowning accidents.”

Last summer, SIOETC ran a pilot safety education programme called “Start with Me: Stay Away from Drowning” in partnership with two primary schools. Around 50 children aged 8 to 12 took part, learning through animation, games, and practical demonstrations how to recognise danger, stay afloat, and help others without putting themselves at risk. Teachers were also trained in child supervision and emergency response. “The feedback was incredibly positive,” says Mr Wu. “Parents, teachers, and the children themselves said it made them feel more confident and more aware.”

Looking ahead, SIOETC hopes to build on this momentum by working more closely with international organisations through the IMRF network. “We’re proud to be a member of the IMRF, and we see it as a valuable platform for sharing experiences and strategies,” says Mr Wu. “By connecting our local efforts with global knowledge, we believe we can make a greater impact, not just in China, but worldwide.”

As World Drowning Prevention Day approaches, SIOETC’s message is clear: saving lives starts with education, and collaboration is key.