Media reporting of summer drowning: A partial picture, useful for advocacy

Abstract

Issue addressed: Media reporting of drowning deaths can be used for multiple purposes, including advocacy, enhancing data on drowning and supporting policy development. Accurate, current and comprehensive data help ensure the development of effective prevention programs as well as being a tool for advocacy. Advocacy for drowning prevention through the media can create behaviour change aligned to the Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods: This study compares media reports of fatal unintentional drowning across the 2017/18 Australian summer (1-December-2017 to 28-February-2018) with drowning cases in the National Coronial Information System (NCIS). Results: Media monitoring identified 84 cases, of which nine (11%), were deaths but not drowning. There were 104 NCIS deaths during this time of which 75 were reported in the media (72% capture). Media captured 100% of drowning incidents involving people 0-24 years and in ocean/harbour locations. Drowning incidents among older people (75+ years; 36% capture), in bathtubs (0% capture), swimming pools (33% capture) and with an unknown activity (27% capture) were poorly reported. Conclusions: Where there are a lack of timely data on drowning, the use of media can help capture deaths, with limitations. Transmission

Epidemiology of unintentional fatal drowning among migrants in Australia

“…The process for sourcing drowning death data has been outlined previously and can be accessed for further details. 25 As of 1 August 2020, 95.5% of cases were closed (i.e. no longer under coronial investigation).…”

Comparing rivers to lakes: Implications for drowning prevention

“…Cases were sourced from the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database (the Database) 15 . Cases in the Database are identified through a process of data triangulation, whereby cases are initially identified through media monitoring, 16 as well as reports from police, child death review teams and life‐saving organisations. All pre‐identified cases are cross‐checked and validated with the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) 17 .…”

Causes of distraction leading to supervision lapses in cases of fatal drowning of children 0–4 years in Australia: A 15‐year review

“…This results in an extremely high capture of cases. Cases from the National Coronial Information System were supplemented with data from police reports, media and child death review teams. Data were consolidated into the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia National Fatal Drowning Database.…”