About project

Why?

Challenge: low level of water safety awareness in both partner countries among youngsters.

Estonia: the rising level of death from drowning, emergency situations on/near water sources (according to the statistics provided by Estonian Rescue Department 42 people drowned in 2024, which is already a higher number than the previous year. The most emergency cases happen in our operations region, which is Harjumaa, due to its population density, seaside and strategic location (capital city and surroundings). Thus it’s been considered a high risk area by the Estonian Police and Border Guards.  

Situation in Latvia is similar. Jurmala is a high risk region being located on the coast and being one of the most popular sea sides in Latvia. 316 drowning cases are registered in Latvia between 2020 and 2022. Statistics shows that on average, a drowned body is removed from the water every three days: 122 people in 2020, 100 in 2021, and 94 in 2022.

At the same time, there is a lack of preventive education on the topic of water safety provided by local services. Moreover, the classes cover only some theoretical parts and lack practical skills. Some marine rescue units also provide some short classes for children, but there is no quality control or structure so everyone does what they can. The situation in Latvia is even more alarming: there is no special programme dedicated to reduce drowning or educate youngsters on water safety topics. 

How?

To address these challenges, the project partners jointly developed a preventive water safety methodology focused on practical learning and behaviour change.

Young people aged 14–18 were selected as the primary target group, as they represent a high-risk group in water-related incidents. At this age, young people tend to challenge rules, take untested risks and may endanger themselves or their peers, particularly in contexts involving peer pressure, alcohol or other substances. At the same time, this age group is receptive to acquiring new skills and knowledge. When delivered in an engaging and relevant way, preventive education can support positive behaviour change and encourage young people to act as role models within their peer groups.

Cross-border cooperation played a key role in the project’s approach. Differences in national water safety systems (such as the presence of volunteer marine rescue units in Estonia and the absence of volunteer lifeguard services, or differing organisational structures in Latvia) allowed partners to exchange experience and combine complementary expertise. This cooperation strengthened the methodology by integrating diverse perspectives on prevention, rescue practice and education.

Testing activities were carried out in schools, camps and non-formal education settings in both countries and involved over 160 young people aged 14–18 in total. Feedback from trainers and participants was systematically collected and used to refine the methodology prior to finalisation. In addition, at least 10 organisations confirmed adoption of the methodology for use in their preventive education activities.

Transferability was ensured through close cooperation with institutions and organisations working in the field of water safety and youth education. These included, among others, the Estonian Rescue Union, the Estonian Rescue Department, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the National Institute for Health Development, municipal education authorities and volunteer sea rescue organisations in Estonia. In Latvia, cooperation involved the Latvian Beach Lifeguard Association, Jaunsardzes centrs (Young Guard Centre), the Latvian Scout and Guide Central Organization, the Fire Safety and Civil Protection College, the State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Latvia). These organisations were involved in testing, expert review, dissemination and uptake of the methodology.

What? 

As a result of the project, a new, innovative and transferable Water Safety Methodology was developed and tested. The methodology is designed as a comprehensive preventive education tool and includes:

• A combination of theoretical and practical elements, addressing the lack of hands-on skill development in existing programmes.
• Focus on risk awareness and preventive behaviour near water, covering all four seasons, including both summer and winter conditions.
• Guidance on effective behaviour in emergency situations as well as in everyday water-related activities.
• Trainer-oriented recommendations on how to deliver the methodology, addressing the needs of instructors who are water safety professionals but do not necessarily have an educational background.
• Recommendations on adapting the methodology to different target groups, including groups with fewer opportunities, physical disabilities or cultural differences.

At the time of project completion, no comparable structured and systematic programme specifically designed for this end-user group and combining prevention, practical skills and pedagogical guidance existed in either country. Here and there a number of volunteer organisations carried out some basic training to youngsters, but no unified approach took place. The developed methodology therefore represents an innovative contribution to preventive water safety education and provides a structured, quality-assured solution for organisations working with young people in Estonia and Latvia.ive.