Drowning prevention: turning the tide on a leading killer

Objectives: To explore trends in unintentional fatal drowning among older adults (65 years and older). Methods: Total population retrospective analysis of unintentional fatal drowning among people aged 65 years and older in Australia, Canada and New Zealand (2005–2014) was conducted. Results: 1459 older adults died. Rates ranged from 1.69 (Canada) to 2.20 (New Zealand) per 100,000. Trends in crude drowning rates were variable from year to year. A downward trend was observed in New Zealand (y = −.507ln(x) + 2.9918), with upward trends in Australia (y = .1056ln(x) + 1.5948) and Canada (y = .1489ln(x) + 1.4571). Population projections suggest high annual drowning deaths by 2050 in Australia (range: 120–190; 1.69–2.76/100,000) and Canada (range: 209–430; 1.78–3.66/100,000). Significant locations and activities associated with older adult drowning differed by country and age band. Conclusions: Drowning among older adults is a hidden epidemic claiming increasing lives as the population ages. Targeted drowning prevention strategies are urgently needed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other similar countries.

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PA 05-7-2279 Utilization of community crèches as a drowning prevention intervention in rural bangladesh

10.1136/injuryprevention-2018-safety.32 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Shumona Sharmin Salam ◽

Md Irteja Islam ◽

Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman ◽

Twaha Mansurun Haque ◽

DME Hoque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prevention Intervention ◽

Drowning Prevention ◽

Rural Bangladesh

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Recommendations for Water Safety and Drowning Prevention for Travelers

Journal of Travel Medicine ◽

10.1111/j.1708-8305.2006.00002.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 21-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Leslie M. Cortés ◽

Stephen W. Hargarten ◽

Halim M. Hennes

Keyword(s):

Water Safety ◽

Drowning Prevention

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269 Evolution of the Child Drowning Prevention Programme in Thailand

Injury Prevention ◽

10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042156.269 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (Suppl 2) ◽

pp. A98.2-A99 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Suchada Gerdmongkolgan ◽

Som Ekchaloemkiet

Keyword(s):

Prevention Programme ◽

Drowning Prevention

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Drowning prevention: priorities to accelerate multisectoral action

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01601-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jagnoor Jagnoor ◽

Olive Kobusingye ◽

Justin-Paul Scarr

Keyword(s):

Drowning Prevention

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Fatal drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa: a 7-year retrospective, epidemiological study

Injury Prevention ◽

10.1136/injuryprev-2018-042945 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 529-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Colleen Jayne Saunders ◽

Robyn Adriaanse ◽

Abigail Simons ◽

Ashley van Niekerk

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Young Adult ◽

Low Income ◽

Western Cape ◽

Middle Income ◽

Registration System ◽

Drowning Prevention ◽

Adult Men ◽

Context Specific ◽

Public Holidays

IntroductionDrowning is a neglected public health threat in low-income and middle-income countries where the greatest drowning burden is observed. There is a paucity of drowning surveillance data from low-resource settings, particularly in Africa. Understanding local epidemiological factors will enable the development of context-specific drowning prevention initiatives and the appropriate allocation of resources.AimThe primary aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of fatal drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa.MethodThis retrospective study describes fatal drowning incidents captured in the Western Cape vital registration system between 2010 and 2016. Data were obtained from the Forensic Pathology Services of the Western Cape Government. One-way analysis of variance was performed to detect a trend in mean drowning mortality rates between 2010 and 2016. χ2 tests for independence were performed to detect differences in the distribution of variables between groups.ResultsA total of 1391 fatal drownings occurred in the Western Cape between 2010 and 2016, with an age-adjusted drowning mortality rate of 3.2 per 100 000 population. Rates were fourfold higher in men compared with women. Children, particularly young children aged 0–4 years, and young adult men between 20 and 34 years of age were identified to be at high risk of fatal drowning. Drowning occurred predominantly in large, open bodies of water with concentrations in summer and public holidays.ConclusionsThe Western Cape drowning prevention strategy should prioritise interventions to reduce drowning in children and young adult men, with a targeted focus on festive periods such as public holidays.

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Socio-Ecological Nature of Drowning in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review to Inform Health Promotion Approaches

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education ◽

10.25035/ijare.12.02.06 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Muthia Cenderadewi ◽

Richard Franklin ◽

Sue Devine

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Prevention Strategies ◽

Water Safety ◽

Middle Income ◽

Drowning Prevention ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Ovid Medline ◽

The Family ◽

Low And Middle Income

Most deaths by drowning (91%) have occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Southeast Asia (35%) and Africa (20%), in proportion to total drowning deaths worldwide. Poor data collection in LMICs hinders the planning, implementation, and evaluation of prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to review the rates and risk factors of unintentional drowning in LMICs and to identify drowning prevention strategies within a socio-ecological health promotion framework. A systematic search, guided by PRISMA, was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Informit health, PsycINFO (ProQuest), Scopus, SafetyLit, Google Scholar, and BioMed Central databases for all relevant studies published between 2012 and 2017. McMaster appraisal guideline was used for critical review. The disparity of available drowning data was observed across selected countries. The highest rates were identified in low-middle income South-east Asian countries. The socio-economic background of the family, overcrowding, and living close to water bodies were important predictors for paediatric drowning in LMICs, while the presence of mother as caregiver was identified as a protective factor. The over-reliance on active injury prevention strategies was identified. Further research focusing on developing relevant upstream drowning prevention and water safety promotion is needed to ensure the sustainability of drowning prevention in LMICs.

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