Boating-related drowning in Australia: Epidemiology,risk factors and the regulatory environment |
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| Institution: | 1. Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia, PO Box 558, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia;2. College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia;1. University of Paris VIII and French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks (Ifsttar), AME-LPC, 25 allée des Marronniers, CS 90508, 78008 VERSAILLES Cedex, France;2. Federal University of Paraná, Department of Psychology, Praça Santos Andrade, 50 – Prédio Histórico da UFPR, Sala 214, CEP 80020-300 Curitiba, Brazil;3. Ifsttar, AME-LPC, 25 allée des Marronniers, CS 90508, 78008 VERSAILLES Cedex, France;1. Center for Transportation Research, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, 600 Henley Street, 309 Conference Center Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-4133, USA;2. Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30030, USA;1. School of Transportation and Logistics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu，China;2. National Engineering Laboratory of Integrated Transportation Big Data Application Technology, West Park, High-Tech District, Chengdu, China;3. Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States;1. Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, IFSTTAR, UMRESTTE UMR_T 9405, F-69675 Lyon, France;2. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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