Informing policy on open water drowning prevention: an observational survey of life jacket use in Washington state

Chung, Celeste; Quan, Linda; Bennett, Elizabeth; Kernic, Mary A.; Ebel, Beth E.

doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2013-041005

Cited by 25 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This figure is consistent with estimations reported from observational studies of PFD use by boaters conducted in 2007 in the four Australian states without comprehensive mandatory PFD wearing regulations (range 8–28%),15 Canada (20%),16 and the three Washington state and regional studies (17–21% for motor boaters) 4 6 8. The US 2012 national life jacket wear rate observational study reported that wearing rates among adults on powerboats was consistently low between 1999 and 2012 (range 3.9% to 5.2%) 7.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Did compulsory wear regulations increase personal flotation device (PFD) use by boaters in small power recreational vessels? A before-after observational study conducted in Victoria, Australia

Cassell

Newstead

2014

Inj Prev

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Objective To estimate the effect of the 2005 Victorian mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) wearing regulations on PFD use by occupants of small (hull length ≤4.8 m) power recreational vessels. Design Before-after observational study investigating the probability of PFD use among occupants of small vessels before and after the regulations were introduced compared with the probability of use by their counterparts on large power vessels (hull length >4.8-12 m) who were not required to wear PFDs before or after the regulations were introduced in the low-risk conditions in which observations occurred. Methods Statewide observation surveys of boaters were conducted in peak boating periods between January and March 2005 ( prelegislation) and 2007 ( postlegislation). Data collection included size of vessel, age and sex of boaters, life jacket use, boat type, activity of boaters, type of waterway and weather and water conditions. Logistic regression modelling tested whether there were statistically significant differences in the change in the relative odds of occupants wearing PFDs from the preintervention to the postintervention period in small compared with large power recreational vessels. Results The probability of PFD use increased from 22% to 63% on small power vessels compared with 12% to 13% on large vessels. Regression analysis showed a high statistically significant increase in the odds of PFD use on small vessels relative to large vessels (OR 6.2, 95% CI 4.2 to 9.3, p<0.001). No statistically significant effect on use on large vessels was associated with the regulation (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.70, p=0.15).Relative to large vessels, on small vessels the odds of PFD use increased significantly in both sexes, all age groups, all vessel types and activity groupings except for towed water sports where the increase was only marginally statistically significant. Conclusions The legislative intervention was successful in increasing PFD wearing in small vessels. However, visible enforcement and tougher penalties are needed to optimise compliance.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Did compulsory wear regulations increase personal flotation device (PFD) use by boaters in small power recreational vessels? A before-after observational study conducted in Victoria, Australia

Cassell

Newstead

2014

Inj Prev

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“…One study, using population-based data from the Australian state of Victoria, found that compulsory life jacket wear regulations did not cause a significant reduction in fatal drowning among those aged 60+, as it had in other age groups 52. Conversely, a second study reported adult life jacket use was lowest among those aged 65 years and older 54. A third, using observational studies, found a 56% increase life jacket wear among those aged 60+ in small power vessels as a result of legislation 53…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for the prevention of global unintentional fatal drowning in people aged 50 years and older: a systematic review

Peden¹,

Franklin

Queiroga

2017

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Purpose Drowning is a global public health issue and prevention poses an ongoing challenge for all countries. Many nations are experiencing ageing populations, and little is known about the epidemiology, risk factors and prevention of drowning deaths among older people. This paper reports on a systematic review of literature published on drowning among older people. Methods A systematic literature review was undertaken using English-language, Portuguese-language and Spanish-language papers published between 1980 and 2015. The review explores gaps in the literature with a focus on the epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for the prevention of unintentional fatal drowning among people 50 years and over. results Thirty-eight papers were deemed relevant to the study design, including 18 (47%) on epidemiology, 19 (50%) on risk factors and 9 (24%) on strategies for prevention. Risk factors identified included male gender, ethnicity, rurality and increasing age. Prevention strategies commonly proposed were education and wearing life jackets. Gaps identified in the published literature include a lack of consistency around age groupings used for epidemiological studies; a lack of consensus on risk factors; a lack of total population, country-level analysis; and the need for older age-specific prevention strategies that have been implemented and their effectiveness evaluated. conclusion This review identified drowning deaths among older people as a global issue. Further work is required to reduce drowning in this cohort. Highquality epidemiological studies identifying risk factors using standardised age groupings to allow for international comparisons are required, as are implementation and evaluation of older age-specific prevention strategies.

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“…The US Coast Guard reports that in 2012 PFD usage in the USA was 22.6% among all boaters, 67.5% among youth under 18 and 9.3% among adults ages 18 and above 12. A 2010 observational study of boats in Washington State reported that PFD usage rates were 30.7% among all boaters and 22–18% among those over the age of 12 13. In Washington State, children ages 12 and under are required to wear a USCG-approved PFD at all times when underway in a boat less than 19 ft in length, unless in a fully enclosed area 14.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A case–control study of boat-related injuries and fatalities in Washington State

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Informing policy on open water drowning prevention: an observational survey of life jacket use in Washington state

Cited by 25 publications

References 10 publications

Did compulsory wear regulations increase personal flotation device (PFD) use by boaters in small power recreational vessels? A before-after observational study conducted in Victoria, Australia

Did compulsory wear regulations increase personal flotation device (PFD) use by boaters in small power recreational vessels? A before-after observational study conducted in Victoria, Australia

Epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for the prevention of global unintentional fatal drowning in people aged 50 years and older: a systematic review

A case–control study of boat-related injuries and fatalities in Washington State

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