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SALTWATER DROWNING AND NEAR‐DROWNING ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN
Author(s) -
Patrick Mark,
Bint Michael,
Pearn John
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1979.tb111997.x
Subject(s) - demography , poison control , case fatality rate , near drowning , population , injury prevention , medicine , daylight , environmental health , physics , sociology , optics
A large total population study of childhood saltwater immersion accidents is reported. A total of 49 cases (16 fatalities, 33 survivors) occurred in the five year period from 1971 to 1975 in southeastern Queensland. As a group, more children survive a potentially fatal saltwater immersion (67%) than do those who lose consciousness in freshwater (50%). The serious saltwater accident rate (loss of consciousness or death) in childhood (from 0 to 15 years inclusive) is 3.37/1 children per year at risk (fatality rate 1.12). This is low; comparison with freshwater data shows that although the surf presents special hazards to children, it is very much safer than other types of water. Age‐specific and site‐specific accident and survival rates for saltwater immersions are presented for the first time. Toddlers are disproportionately represented (33% of all children) and their survival rates are lowest. Boating and the use of surfboards, in current practice, are negligible threats to children. The saltwater immersion rate is increasing (although the absolute risk is small) and reasons for this are discussed. Childhood saltwater immersions were unaffected by tidal state. All but one case of immersion occurred during daylight hours, and in younger children immersion occurred often on weekends.