Drowning Report 2010

Quick Facts 5

Introduction 7

Infants and Toddlers 9

Children 11

Young Adults 13

Adults 15

Older Adults 17

Royal Life Saving Initiatives 19

Royal Life Saving Society WA Inc

23 people drowned in Western Australia in 2010• 78%weremale• 74%ofincidentsoccuredinthePerthmetropolitanarea• 43%involvedadultsaged30-59years• 61%occurredatcoastallocations• 35%wereswimming,13%werefishing,13%werediving• 35%werecontributedtobymedicalconditions• 102peoplewerehospitalisedfollowinganear-drowningincident

Infants and Toddlers (0-5 years)Fourchildrenunderfiveyearsofagedrownedin2010• Allweremaleandundertwoyearsofage• Allincidentsoccurredinandaroundthehome(nonein swimmingpools)• Contributingfactors:Lackofsupervisionandpoorlymaintained barriers• 40near-drowninghospitalisationsrecorded,significantlyhigher thananyotheragegroup

Children (6-14 years)Nodrowningdeathswererecordedinthisagegroupin2010.Ninechildrenwerehospitalisedfollowinganear-drowningincident.

Young Adults (15-29 years)Twoyoungadultsdrownedin2010.• Significantdecreasefrom2009• Bothweremale• Contributingfactors:riskybehaviourandinexperience• 17near-drowninghospitalisationsrecorded

Adults (30-59 years)Tenadultsdrownedin2010.• 70%weremale• 80%occurredinPerthmetropolitanarea• 70%occurredatcoastallocations• 30%involveddiving;20%fishingand20%swimming• Contributingfactors:medicalconditions,druguse,inexperience andpoorknowledgeoflocalconditionsandareas• 29near-drowninghospitalisationsrecorded

Older Adults 60+ yearsSevenolderadultsdrownedin2010.• 71.4%weremale• 42.9%occurredinregionalandremoteareas• 71.4%occurredatcoastallocations• Contributingfactors:medicalconditionsandlackofknowledge oflocalconditionsandareas• 7near-drowninghospitalisationsrecorded

Quick Facts

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Royal Life Saving Society WA Inc

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WhilemanyWesternAustraliansenjoyparticipatinginarangeofactivitiesin,onandaroundourbeautifulwaterways,eachyeartoomanypeopledrown.Thisreportprovidesanoverviewofthedrowningdeathsandnear-drowninghospitalisationsthatoccurredinWesternAustraliafromJanuarytoDecember2010.

ThisdataiscollectedfromtheCoroner’sCourtofWesternAustraliaandtheEpidemiologyBranchoftheDepartmentofHealth.Thisinformationgivesusabetterunderstandingofwho,howandwhypeopledrowninWesternAustraliaandhighlightshazardouslocationsandprioritygroupsandactivitiesfortargetedinterventions.

Between1stJanuaryand31stDecember2010,63drowningdeathswererecordedinWesternAustralia.Ofthese,23caseswereidentifiedasunintentionalandhavebeenincludedinthisreportatanestimatedcostof$36.8milliontothebroadercommunity.

30casesinvolvedthedrowningdeathsofasylumseekersoffChristmasIslandandhavenotbeenincludedinthisreport.Theremaining10caseswereomittedfromthereportastheywereclassifiedasintentional(suicide)orhadanopenfinding.AllcasesincludedinthisreporthavebeenclosedbytheCoronertoensurethattheinformationisasreliableandaccurateaspossible.

Drowning and Near-Drowning Trends in WA

Thisyear’sdrowningfiguresshowadecreasefromthe2009figuresandbringthe5-yearaveragedownto29.6drowningdeaths/year.Thisisa7%decrease.However,hospitalisationsasaresultofanear-drowningorimmersionincidentcontinuedtoincreaseandhavealmostdoubledoverthepastfiveyears.

Likepreviousyears,maleswere3.5timesmorelikelytobeinvolvedinadrowningincidentandtwiceaslikelytobehospitalisedasaresultofanear-drowningincident.

Rates of Drowning in WA

TheWesternAustralianpopulationwas2,317,100atDecember2010whichrepresenteda2.1%increasefromthepreviousyear.ThismeansthattherateofdrowninginWAin2010was0.99deathsper100,000persons.

Our Environment

Makingourwaterwayssafeisamajordrowningpreventionchallenge,particularlywhenyouconsiderthevastnatureofWesternAustraliaandthedifferingenvironmentsthroughoutthestate.WesternAustraliahasthegreatestareaofalltheStatesandTerritoriescovering2,529,875km2andaccountsfor33%ofthecontinent.

ThefollowinginformationprovidesanoverviewofthescopeandcomplexityofourenvironmentinWesternAustraliathatneedstobeconsideredwhenplanningdrowningpreventionstrategiesandinterventions.

• WesternAustraliahasacoastlinelengthof20,871km

• Thereare29surflifesavingclubsinWesternAustraliawho performed844rescues,3,874firstaidcasesand2,659 preventativeactionsin2009.2010(SurfLifeSavingWAAnnual Report)

• Over3,000,000peoplevisitedourbeachesin2009.2010(Surf LifeSavingWAAnnualReport)

• Thereare120publicswimmingpoolfacilitiesinWestern Australiawithover10,000,000visitationsin2010(Leisure InstituteofWA)

• Thereare58riversstretchingover9,587kmand640intermittent andperenniallakesthroughoutthestate

• In2010,34%ofthepopulationwasinvolvedinrecreational fishingactivitiesandtherewere55commercialfisheries throughoutthestate(RecFishWest)

• Thereare72,000registeredvesselsinWesternAustraliaandit isestimatedthat¼millionpeopleenjoyboatingeachyear (DepartmentofTransport)

• In2009.2010participationinswimmingandwateractivities ranked6thhighestformalesand3rdhighestforfemales(ABS)

• Thereareover260remoteAboriginalcommunitiesthroughout thestateDepartmentofIndigenousAffairs)

Introduction 20

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Drowning Near-drowning

In2010therewerefourdrowningdeathsrecordedamongstchildrenunderfiveyearsofageinWA,doublethatseenin2009.The5yearaverageforthisagegroupisnow3.2deathsperyear.

Inacontinuingtrend,allincidentsinvolvedmalesundertwoyearsofage.50%oftheincidentsoccurredinregionalandremoteareasofthestateandwhilealloftheincidentsoccurredatlocationsinandaroundthehome,nonewereinthehomeswimmingpool.Infact,thelastdeathoccurringinahomeswimmingpoolamongstthisagegroupwasin2009.

Alloftheincidentswerecontributedtolapsesinsupervisionduetodistractionandinterruptions.Barrierstowaterlocationswerealsoacontributingfactorinalloftheincidents.

Whileweareseeinglowtoddlerdrowningdeathnumbers,thehospitalisationrateofnear-drowningissignificantlyhigherthananyotheragegroupinWesternAustralia.In2010,40toddlerswerehospitalisedafteranear-drowningincidentwhichisdoublethatrecordedin2005.Thismeansthatin2010foreverychildthatdrownedinWA,10wereadmittedtohospitalfollowinganear-drowningincident.

Thismaybeasaresultofhigherlevelsofsupervisionwhichhaveallowedthechildtoberescuedinamoretimelymanner,thereforepreventingadeathfromoccurring.

Recommendations

1. Strategiestotargetnewparentsshouldbedevelopedas childrenunder2yearsaremostat-riskofdrowningdeath

2. Supervisionshouldcontinuetobehighlightedasthemost effectivewaytopreventtoddlerdrowningdeathwithaparticular focusongivingparentsandcarersstrategiestoreduceand managedistractionsandinterruptionstosupervision

3. Continueandexpandthepromotionandenforcementofhome poolbarrierlegislativerequirementswithafocusonmaintaining adequatebarriersatalltimesaroundallwaterbodiesincluding swimmingpools,spasandinflatablepools 4. Expandcurrentmessagesandprogramstohighlightthe riskofbothfatalandnon-fataldrowningtoparents,carersand grandparents

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Infants and Toddlers (0-5yrs)20

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Children (6-14yrs)

Thisyeartherewerenodrowningdeathsrecordedamongstchildrenaged6-14yearsinWesternAustralia.

Thisbuildsonthelownumberofdrowningdeathsthatwehaveseeninthisagegroupoverthepastfiveyearsandisafantasticachievement.

TheRoyalLifeSavingSocietybelievesthatincreasingthenumberofchildrenthatlearntoswimandsurviveoverthepastdecadehascontributedsignificantlytothisachievement;withover300,000childrenparticipatinginlearntoswimprogramsin2010.

Continuingtofacilitateaccesstotheseprogramstoprovidechildrenwiththeskillsandknowledgetoparticipatesafelyinaquaticactivitiesisthekeytolong-termsustainabledrowningpreventionachievements.

Similarly,wehavecontinuedtoseealownumberofhospitalisationsasaresultofnear-drowningthroughoutthestateoverthepastfiveyears,withonly9casesrecordedin2010andafiveyearaverageof6.6hospitalisationsperyear.

Recommendations

1. Continuetopromotetheimportanceoflearn-to-swimprograms thatprovidechildrenwithswimming,watersafetyandsurvival skillsasaneffectivedrowningpreventionstrategy

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Overall,thereweretwodrowningdeathsrecordedamongstyoungadultsin2010.Thisisasignificantdecreasefromthe11deathsseeninthisagegroupin2009andhasresultedina20%decreaseinthefiveyearaverageto5.4deathsperyear.

Theincidentsinthisagegroupwerecontributedtobyriskybehaviourandinexperiencewiththeactivitybeingundertaken.Alcoholwasafactorinoneoftheincidents.

Whilethisreductionindrowningdeathsispromising,effortstocontinueeducationandprogramstargetedatprovidingyoungpeoplewiththeinformationandskillstomakesafechoiceswhenparticipatingin,onoraroundthewaterisrequiredtoensuretheselownumbersaremaintained.

Inaddition,in2010therewere17near-drowninghospitalisationsrecordedamongstyoungadultsandthisfigurehasincreasedalmost3-foldoverthepastfiveyears.

Recommendations

1. Educationandawarenessstrategiesoftherisksand dangersassociatedwithaquaticactivity(particularlyalcohol consumptionandhighriskactivities)shouldbecontinued

2. Theriskofseriousinjuryandhospitalisationshouldbepromoted inadditiontotheriskofdrowningdeathtoyoungadultsasa consequenceofbehavingunsafewhilein,onandaroundthe water

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Adults (30-59yrs)

In2010,10adultsaged30-59yearsdrownedinWesternAustraliawhichissimilartonumbersseenoverthepastfewyears.Thisgroupcontinuestorecordahighnumberofdrowningdeathsandremainsapriorityareafordrowningpreventionintervention.

Inacontinuingtrend70%oftheseincidentsinvolvedmales.

ByActivityThemajorityofincidents(30%)occurredwhilediving(Scubaandfreediving),with20%oftheincidentsoccurringwhilefishingand20%whileswimming.

ByLocationIncontrasttopreviousyears,themajority(80%)ofincidentsamongstthisagegroupoccurredinthemetropolitanPertharea.Overall,70%ofallincidentsoccurredatcoastallocations.Otherlocationsincludedhotelspa,harbourandaninflatableswimmingpool.Unlikepreviousyears,noincidentswererecordedinhomeswimmingpools.

ContributingfactorsTherewereanumberoffactorsthatcontributedtodrowningdeathsamongstadultsaged30-59years.Similartopreviousyearsmedicalconditionswereacontributingfactorin40%ofincidentsanddrugusecontributedto30%ofincidents.Interestingly,thetrendofincreasingalcoholrelateddrowningdeathsinthisagegroupwasreversedthisyearwithonlyoneincidentrecorded.

Inexperienceintheactivitybeingundertakenandalackofknowledgeaboutthelocationandconditionswereacontributingfactorin50%ofallincidentsrecordedinthisagegroup.

Near-DrowningHospitalisationsDatashowsthattherateofhospitalisationduetonear-drowningamongstadultsaged30-59yearsissignificantlylowerthananyotheragegroup,with16hospitalisationsrecordedin2010.Thishasremainedstableoverthepastfiveyears.Thismaybeduetomanypeopleinthisagegroupparticipatingalone(whichhasbeenreportedinpreviousreports)reducingthechanceofarescuebeingperformedorduetopre-existingmedicalconditionsplacingthematahigherriskofdrowningdeath.

Recommendations

1. Strategiestoimproveawarenessandknowledgeofhazardous andhighrisklocations(includinglocalconditions)suchas localisededucationprograms,informationresources, advertisingandsignageinvolvinglocalcommunitygroups shouldbeinvestigated

2. Educateadultsontheimpactthatpre-existingmedical conditionscanhaveontheirabilitytoundertakeactivitiesinand aroundthewaterandencouragethemtoparticipatewithothers

3. Promotetheimportanceofundertakingfirstaidand resuscitationtrainingandmaintainingappropriateandup-to datequalifications

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In2010,sevenolderadultsagedover60yearsdrownedinWA,continuingthedownwardtrendofincidentsinthisagegroup.The5yearaverageforthisagegrouphasremainedstableat8deathsperyear.

Themajorityoftheseincidents(71.4%)involvedmaleswhichisconsistentwithpreviousdata.

ByActivity71.4%ofincidentsoccurredwhileswimmingand28.6%ofincidentsoccurredwhilefishingamongstthisagegroup.Allofthefishingincidentsoccurredwhilefishingfromaboat,continuingtheincreasingtrendofboatingrelatedincidentsamongstthisagegroup.

ByLocation42.9%ofincidentsoccurredinregionalandremoteareasofthestate,thehighestofanyotheragegroupin2010.Thismaybeduetomanypeopleinthisagegroupmigratingtoregionalcoastalareasoncetheyretire.

Overall,71.4%ofincidentsoccurredatcoastallocations.Otherlocationsincludedthehomeswimmingpoolandhotelswimmingpools.

ContributingFactorsAlmostalloftheincidentsrecordedamongstthisagegroupin2010werecontributedtobypre-existingmedicalconditions(particularlyheartdisease).Medicalconditionsrestrictaperson’sabilitytoundertakeaquaticactivityandthereforeplacesthematanincreasedriskofdrowningandnear-drowning.

Inexperienceandalackofknowledgeaboutlocalconditionsandweatherwerecontributingfactorsin42.9%ofincidentsandalcoholwasacontributingfactorin14%ofincidents.

Near-DrowningHospitalisationsIn2010,sevenhospitalisationsasaresultofanear-drowningincidentwererecordedinWesternAustralia.Thisnumberremainslowandsimilartoadultscouldbearesultofmanypeopleinthisagegroupparticipatingalone(whichhasbeenreportedinpreviousreports)reducingthechanceofarescuebeingperformedorduetopre-existingmedicalconditionsplacingthematahigherriskofdrowningdeath.

Recommendations

1. Strategiestoimproveawarenessandknowledgeofhazardous andhighrisklocations(includinglocalconditions)suchas educationprograms,informationresources,advertisingand signageshouldbeinvestigated

2. Educateadultsontheimpactthatpre-existingmedical conditionscanhaveontheirabilitytoundertakeactivitiesinand aroundthewaterandencouragethemtoparticipatewithothers andencouragethemtoseekmedicalclearancebefore participation

3. Developstrategiestopromoteparticipationinregularaquatic activitytolimitthedeteriorationofskillswithageandcreate awarenessofchangingbodyabilitiesandprovidethemwiththe opportunitytodevelopskillstoensurethattheyundertakethe activitiesinasafemanner

4. Promotetheimportanceofundertakingfirstaidand resuscitationtrainingandmaintainingappropriateand up-to-datequalifications

5. Boatingremainsahighriskactivityforthisagegroup.Further investigationandresearchintotheseincidentsisrequiredto determinehowtheissuecanbeaddressed

Older Adults (60+yrs)

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Royal Life Saving Initiatives

TheRoyalLifeSavingSocietyWesternAustraliaInc.believesthateveryonecanbealifesaverandhasdevelopedanumberofwatersafetyanddrowningpreventioninitiativestoturneverydaypeopleintoeverydaylifesaversandpreventdrowningtragediesfromoccurring.

•KeepWatchToddlerDrowningPreventionProgram

•Don’tDrinkandDrown

•WatchAroundWater

•RemoteAboriginalSwimmingPoolsProject

•InfantAquatics

•Swim&Survive

•JuniorLifeguardClub

•HomePoolInspectionProgram

•RescueandRevive–eventsafetyprogram

•AquaticInjurySurveillanceProgram

•Firstaidandwatersafetytrainingprograms

•Eventmanagement

•GreatAustraliaDayDuckPluckFundraisingEvent

•SportandRecreationManagementSingaporeprograms

For further information or to obtain additional copies of the 2010 Drowning Report, please contact:

Royal Life Saving Society Australia Western Australia Inc. McGillivray Road, Mt Claremont WA 6010PO Box 28, Floreat Forum WA 6014Phone: (08) 9383 8200Facsimile: (08) 9383 9922Email: info@rlsswa.com.auWebsite: www.lifesavingwa.com.au

The Royal Life Saving Society would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the WA Coroners Court for allowing us to access drowning death case files and the Epidemiology Branch of the Department of Health WA for compiling the near-drowning hospitalisation data included in this report.