Medal "For the Salvation of the Drowning"

The Medal "For the Salvation of the Drowning" (Russian: Медаль «За спасение утопающих») was a state decoration of the Soviet Union awarded to citizens of any nationality for courage and resourcefulness in rescuing people from drowning. It was established on February 16, 1957, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Its statute was twice amended by further decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, first on August 1, 1967 and lastly on July 18, 1980. The medal ceased to be awarded following the December 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union; an interim design with "Russia" replacing the "USSR" on the reverse was awarded a few times until it was replaced in 1994 by the Russian Federation's Medal "For Life Saving".