Objective: Recreational boating is a popular pastime in many high income countries, and is a leading activity prior to drowning. This study reports on unintentional fatal drowning associated with boating-related incidents in Australia.
Methods: A total population, retrospective, cross sectional design examined all boating-related unintentional drowning deaths between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2015. Variables examined included age, sex, location of drowning incident, vessel type, activity, presence of alcohol/drugs, and lifejacket wear. Relative risk (with a 95% confidence interval) was calculated using fatal drowning rates per 100,000 population and rates per 100,000 registered vessels. Chi square analysis and non-parametric tests for significance were applied. Statistical significance was deemed p < .05.
Results: A total of 415 people drowned while boating during the study period, 91.8% male and 35.7% aged between 25 and 44 years. Men were 10 times more likely to drown when boating than females (RR = 10.64 CI:7.55-14.97). Over one-quarter (28.7%) of incidents involved alcohol, in 30.6% drugs were identified (31.3% were illegal) and 90.4% were not wearing a lifejacket. Children were more at risk of drowning on a houseboat than adults (RR = 7.13; CI:1.61-31.61). Females were more likely to drown than males when using a personal watercraft (RR = 10.53; CI:2.75-40.33).
Conclusion: Boaters may be taking unnecessary risks by disregarding safety regulations, such as not wearing lifejackets and substance use (such as alcohol and illegal drugs). Boating in remote locations presents a high risk of drowning. While safety regulations are in place, enforcement and behavior change remain challenges. Practical application: Findings support recommendations for increased enforcement of alcohol-related regulations and introducing drug-testing for boaters. Consistency of boating safety regulations, especially around lifejacket wear, is recommended to influence behavior change. The effectiveness of current lifejacket regulations need to be critically evaluated in the context of increasing wear rates for adults and children.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2019.06.005 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The mechanism-specific injury mortality burden associated with heatwave in China in a warming world.
Environ Int
December 2024
Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control (Jinan University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address:
Numerous studies have investigated the impact of heatwaves on non-accidental mortality, yet the association and burden of heatwaves on mechanism-specific injury mortality remain underexplored. This study collected 257,267 injury-related fatalities and corresponding daily maximum temperatures (DMT) across seven Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2023. A heatwave was characterized by two or more successive days where the DMT surpassed its 92.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFactors Associated with Pediatric Drowning-Associated Lung Injury.
J Pediatr
December 2024
Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Objective: To identify risk factors for clinically-important drowning-associated lung injury (ciDALI) in children.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study of children (0 through18 years) who presented to 32 pediatric emergency departments (EDs) from 2010 through 2017. We reviewed demographics, comorbidities, prehospital data, chest radiographs reports, and ED course from emergency medical services, medical, and fatality records.
Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema in a Member Participating in a Special Tactics Selection Course.
Aerosp Med Hum Perform
December 2024
Background: Swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE), also called immersion pulmonary edema, is a form of exertional pulmonary edema associated with swimming and/or water immersion without aspiration. Most case reports on SIPE feature young, healthy patients who were scuba-diving, surface swimming, snorkeling, or breath-hold diving before experiencing symptoms of dyspnea, chest pain/tightness, cough, and hemoptysis. The incidence of SIPE is thought to be between 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFulminant Edwardsiella tarda bacteremia following near-drowning episode in a patient without cirrhosis: A case report.
J Infect Chemother
December 2024
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center.
Edwardsiella tarda is a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen within the Enterobacterales order, recognized as a causative agent of hemorrhagic septicemia in fish but also pathogenic to humans. However, the clinical course and prognostic factors of E. tarda bacteremia are not fully understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrends of fatal unintentional injuries among working-age adults in Finland between 1998 and 2022.
Injury
November 2024
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30 FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland.
Article Synopsis
- * A study analyzed data from 1998 to 2022, finding a significant decline in fatal unintentional injuries among working-age adults, particularly a 53% decrease in men and 46% in women, except for increased poisonings in younger adults (25-34 years).
- * The results indicate that while collaborative national efforts have effectively reduced fatalities, there is still a need for targeted preventive measures, particularly to address substance abuse-related injuries.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!