Definition of drowning

After an international consensus procedure, a new definition for drowning was proposed which includes cases of both fatal and non-fatal drowning. It defines drowning as “the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid”. There was also agreement that the terms wet, dry, active, passive, silent, and secondary drowning should no longer be used (van Beeck et al 2015).

Drowning burden in Australia

Drowning outcomes include death, morbidity, and no morbidity. For each person who survives, some are left with severe disability or long term conditions. Hospitalisation data provides an indication of the incidence of non-fatal drownings but not of the outcomes of these events.

Intervention

The Australian Water Safety Strategy 2016-2020 highlighted the need for prevention goals to include both fatal and non-fatal drowning. Effective prevention strategies to reduce drowning incidents include: legisation requiring fencing around private swimming pools, teaching basic swimming skills in schools, water safety knowledge, active adult supervision for children, never swimming alone and awareness of skill limitations (Australian Water Safety Council, 2016).

Drowning prevention involves the collaboration of governments, the private sectorand communities in order to create safer environments and cultures.

References

Australian Water Safety Council (2016) Australian Water Safety Strategy Consultation Draft 2016-20. Australian Water Safety Council, Sydney. Available at: http://www.watersafety.com.au/Portals/0/AWSC%20Strategy%202016-20/RLS_AWSS2016_Report_2016LR.pdf [Accessed July 2020]

van Beeck E, Branche CM, Szpilman D, Modell JH, Bierens J. A new definition of drowning: towards documentation and prevention of a global public health problem. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2005; 83(11): 853-6.