Romania has significantly higher accidental drowning deaths than Italy, linked to lack of swimming facilities and risky behavior.
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Accidental drowning deaths are ten times higher in Romania than in Italy, with most victims being men who often lack swimming skills or act recklessly. While European drowning incidents are generally decreasing, Romania has 1020 accidental drownings in 2021 compared to 285 in Italy, despite having a smaller population and coastlines. In general across Europe, male deaths predominate, linked to activities like fishing or overestimating abilities. However, victim profiles vary by country; for instance, Baltic nations see many working-age men die, often related to alcohol consumption, whereas Romania sees more elderly victims. High drowning rates in Romania are attributed to a lack of lifeguards on open beaches and disregard for safety rules, though most incidents occur in rivers, canals, or lakes. A common issue is that swimmers overestimate their abilities; experts stress the need for widespread swimming education, which is hindered by limited facilities and high costs in countries like Lithuania and Romania. Italy’s low drowning rate is attributed to well-organized rescue efforts between national bodies.
