Overseas visitors admitted to Queensland hospitals for water‐related injuries

Abstract

Objective To determine the number of overseas visitors admitted to Queensland hospitals for water‐related injuries over three years, the causes of their injuries, the resulting conditions treated, and the type of hospitals to which they were admitted. Design Retrospective analysis of admissions of overseas visitors to Queensland hospitals over the three financial years 1995/96, 1996/97 and 1997/98. Patients 296 overseas visitors admitted for water‐related injuries, identified from hospital records by their usual place of residence. Main outcome measures Number of admissions, causes of injuries, conditions treated, and bed days occupied by these patients at different types of hospitals (metropolitan, regional and rural public hospitals, and private hospitals). Results The 296 overseas visitors accounted for a total of 596 separate admissions, many of these the result of patients with decompression illness being admitted several times to a regional hospital hyperbaric chamber for treatment as day patients. The largest number of injuries involved the use of diving equipment. The main conditions treated were decompression illness (54.7%), fractures and dislocations (15.5%), and drowning and non‐fatal submersion (14.9%). Overall, overseas visitors admitted to hospital following a water‐related incident occupied 1215 bed days; 90% of these admissions were to regional hospitals. Conclusions The main reason for admission of overseas visitors is for decompression illness, suggesting that the prevention of injuries among scuba divers requires further coordinated efforts by health and tourism authorities.

Safety in the Dive Tourism Industry of Australia

“…Of the diving incidents, the dominant cause of admissions was for decompression illness, accounting for 54.8% (149 patients). Sadly, comparisons with an earlier study (Wilks & Coory, 2000) conducted for the previous 3-year period (1995/1996-1997/1998) revealed that decompression illness continued to be the main condition treated, and that the proportion of patients treated had not changed over 6 years. This led the authors to recommend that scuba diving safety in Queensland requires further targeted attention.…”

Epidemiological and clinical profile of Korean travelers receiving international medical repatriation

“…As in earlier studies, 5 patients received a recommendation to travel by ship because of the pressure problems expected after neurosurgical operations in foreign hospitals. [17,18] However, patients who underwent procedures such as vascular clipping who had experienced 3 postsurgical days without incident did not develop complications during transfer. Arranging transport prior to surgery and establishing good communication with local staff are crucial to ensuring that patients are transported as safely and quickly as possible.…”

A sting from an unknown jellyfish species associated with persistent symptoms and raised troponin I levels

“…The fact that the victim of this jellyfish sting was an international tourist is consistent with the previously identified importance of water‐related recreation injuries among overseas travellers in Australia. A significant proportion of snorkelling, scuba‐related deaths and decompression illnesses and surf beach‐related drownings are associated with international tourists 35 . While water safety education, training and supervision are critical aspects of preventing such injuries, the optimal management of marine animal envenomation injuries, once they occur, remains the subject of ongoing research.…”

“…A significant proportion of snorkelling, scuba-related deaths and decompression illnesses and surf beach-related drownings are associated with international tourists. 35 While water safety education, training and supervision are critical aspects of preventing such injuries, the optimal management of marine animal envenomation injuries, once they occur, remains the subject of ongoing research.…”