Data from the Fire Department reinforces the importance of prevention after 1,092 rescues carried out on the beaches of the Lakes Region in the first half of 2026. SOBRASA More than a thousand people were rescued on the beaches of the Lakes Region in the first six months of 2026, according to a survey by the Fire Department requested by g1. Between January 1st and June 25th, 1,092 rescues were recorded, in addition to 133,154 prevention actions and 244 locations of lost children in the areas served by the 18th Military Firefighter Group (GBM), in Cabo Frio, and by the Saquarema and Rio das Ostras detachments. The numbers reinforce the warning about the importance of preventing drownings. The survey coincides with the mobilization of the Brazilian Aquatic Rescue Society (SOBRASA) for World Drowning Prevention Day, celebrated on July 25th and established by the United Nations (UN). The campaign seeks to raise awareness among the population about the risks on beaches, rivers, lakes, dams and swimming pools. According to SOBRASA, around 5,742 people drown each year in Brazil, the equivalent of one death every 90 minutes. Drowning is the second leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4 years, and four children drown every day in the country. ? Follow the g1 Região dos Lagos channel on WhatsApp.
More than a thousand people were rescued on the beaches of the Lagos Region in six months
Data from the Fire Department reinforces the importance of prevention after 1,092 rescues carried out on the beaches of the Lakes Region in the first half of 2026. SOBRASA More than a thousand people were rescued on the...
The entity's data also shows that 52% of deaths of children up to 9 years old occur inside homes, while 66% of deaths in general occur in rivers, lakes and dams. Men represent the majority of victims, with a risk of death six times greater than that of women, and 41% of deaths occur before the age of 29. As part of the campaign, SOBRASA will promote actions across the country, including the "Go Blue – Dress in Blue" movement, with lighting of monuments and public buildings; the "Celebrating Your City" program, with educational activities and water emergency courses; and the sports challenge "Dando a Volta no Planeta Azul", which will bring together water sports enthusiasts. The program also includes the Aquatic Emergencies Workshop, held simultaneously in several Brazilian cities. The initiative is aimed at open water swimmers, surfers, stand up paddle boarders (SUP), kitesurfers, canoeing, rowing and other sports developed in rivers, lakes and the sea. The objective is to guide participants on accident prevention, identification of risk situations and safe procedures in water emergencies. "With each reported case, families are devastated by a tragedy that could have been avoided. The majority of drownings occur due to a lack of information, adequate supervision and respect for the risks present in each aquatic environment. World Drowning Prevention Day is an opportunity to transform information into action and save lives", says the secretary general of SOBRASA, David Szpilman.
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