Reducing drowning deaths: the continued challenge of immersion fatalities in Australia

Abstract

Objective: To explore 5 years of drowning deaths in Australia compared with a previous Australian study a decade earlier, and to assess the feasibility of achieving a 50% reduction in unintentional drowning deaths by 2020. Design and setting: An audit of all unintentional drowning deaths in Australia using data from the National Coroners Information System for 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2007. Main outcome measures: Number and rate of drowning deaths, by age, sex, location, activity, place of birth, visitor status, and involvement of alcohol or drugs. Results: There were 1452 drowning deaths during the study period (76.4% male). The age‐adjusted rate per 100 000 people ranged from 1.61 in 2002–03 to 1.23 in 2006–07. Children aged 0–4 years had the highest rate (2.63 per 100 000 people), and 29% of deaths were of people aged 55 years or older. Over half of all deaths occurred in rivers (20.3%), at beaches (18.3%), or in swimming pools (13.3%). Alcohol was involved in 21.6% of all drowning deaths, although this varied by age. Conclusions: This audit suggests that a 50% reduction in drowning fatalities by 2020 may be achievable using current knowledge and preventive systems in certain types of immersions. However, further research and new initiatives will be required, particularly to prevent drowning deaths in rivers and of older people.

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

“…Other studies proposed a range of strategies, including further research, reskilling of the at-risk population2 and improvements to watercourses through engineering,56 among others. Evidence used in papers proposing prevention strategies were low, with all (100.0%) being classified as level IV—expert opinion.…”

“…Where this information was present, there was variation between the age groups, with studies examining drowning in 5-year age bands from 50 to 54 to 85+,2 a study that stopped at the 50–54 years age group,39 a study examining 50–59, 60–69 and 70+ years,49 and a study with older age groups of 55–64, 65–74 and 75+,36 among other variations. The drowning rate by age group does vary for those over 50 years,2 26 37 39 46 49 and thus greater differentiation of age is required to understand the risks and develop prevention strategies.…”

“…Drowning in older people is an often neglected2 yet growing problem across the globe as older people undertake aquatic activities to keep fit, recreate in and around water and move closer to aquatic locations in their retirement years 2 3. Drowning in older people is complicated by underlying medical conditions,4 5 impacted by lifestyle6 and likely to be preventable.…”

Interventions associated with drowning prevention in children and adolescents: systematic literature review

“…Drowning is rarely the result of a single cause, nor is there a single prevention solution 3 4. Circumstances can vary widely by age and aquatic setting,5–7 and the activity being undertaken prior to drowning.…”

Understanding hikers who approached a hazardous river in Yosemite National Park

“…An investigation of 1052 drowning deaths in North Carolina reported that 29% took place in ‘rivers’ 4. In Australia, rivers have been identified as the most common site of adult drowning 5. The authors of that report noted ‘although much work has been undertaken in Australia to make public swimming pools and beaches safer, little is known about drowning deaths or effective prevention strategies in rivers…’.…”