Death by drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death in New Zealand. In 2005, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) launched the Drowning Prevention Strategy to co-ordinate the efforts of those involved in water safety and establish a water safety culture in New Zealand. This program of research was commissioned by ACC to help achieve the objectives of the first five years of the Strategy.
Purpose
The main objective of this program of research was to provide a systematic review and horizon scan of the scientific and grey literature on drowning risk factors, drowning prevention interventions and barriers to drowning prevention interventions for the period 2004 - present, together with an international comparison of water safety policies and programmes in countries similar to New Zealand.
Key Results
- Scientifically robust evaluations of drowning prevention interventions were found to be lacking for the period 2004 to present. Out of the five eligible studies found, the best evidence comes from one well designed meta-analysis that showed that general home safety education did not prevent children from being left alone in the bath.
- Findings from twelve studies showed that risk-taking behaviour by swimming pool patrons, lifeguard behaviour, ethnicity, multi-media marketing and personal perceptions may all mediate the effect of drowning prevention interventions. Inspection programmes were shown to facilitate compliance to pool fencing requirements rather than act as a barrier, and those parents who have children enrolled in swimming lessons may have an overly optimistic view of the protective role of swimming ability in toddler drowning prevention.
- Alcohol use, lack of parental supervision, use of bath seats and risk-taking behaviour were identified as the main modifiable potential risk factors for drowning and near-drowning as a result of non-recreational immersion and recreational swimming, angling/net/shell fishing and underwater activities identified in the fifteen studies examined from 2004 to present.
- The major gap in water safety policies and drowning prevention campaigns in New Zealand and internationally are those related to alcohol use in and around water, particularly in young men.