Water Competence

ining feature of daily life, whether through recreation, transportation, work, or leisure. Despite structured swimming education, many individuals still lack the necessary skills to respond effectively to unforeseen or hazardous water-related situations. The Water Competence app, developed by Borgar Ness and Egil Galaaen Gjølme at the Department of Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), is a freely accessible, research-based tool designed to address this gap. Grounded in international research on drowning prevention and aquatic education, the app promotes a broader understanding of water safety, framed through the concept of water competence. It encompasses orientation in water, breath control, floating with clothes, basic self-rescue, and situational risk assessment. These skills are critical for reducing drowning risk—especially in open, cold, or unfamiliar water conditions, where most drowning incidents occur. The Water Competence app has seen widespread adoption, with users in more than 80 countries. It contains over 500 instructional videos, all of which are freely available, and provides structured exercises and assessment tools designed for practical use. It supports a wide range of users—teachers, swim instructors, caregivers, NGOs, community organizations, and individuals seeking to enhance their own water safety skills or those of others. By making high-quality, evidence-informed educational content universally accessible, Water Competence represents a scalable and cost-effective resource. It can strengthen formal swim and safety instruction, supplement community-based education, and empower users with the knowledge and tools they need to build real, context-sensitive water competence. As more regions experience the effects of climate change—leading to increased exposure to flooding, extreme weather, and unpredictable aquatic conditions—the need for functional water safety education becomes even more urgent. Tools like Water Competence, which combine accessibility, research integrity, and global applicability, should be considered a key component in international drowning prevention strategies.