INLAND WATERWAYS Drowning data for rivers/creeks/streams and lakes/dams/lagoons
56
2018/19
2017/18
10-YEAR AVERAGE
101 DEATHS
80 DEATHS
102
0.4 Deaths per 100,000
0.2 Deaths per 100,000
0.4 Deaths per 100,000
1%
DEATHS
0%
SEX 18%
21%
Female
82%
79%
Male
18%
Female
Female
82%
Male
Male
Rivers/creeks/streams
Lakes/dams/lagoons
2017/18
59 2018/19
80
21 10-YEAR AVERAGE
21
76
5%
26
19%
57
INLAND WATERWAYS Swimming and aquatic recreation activities have become synonymous with the Australian identity. Given Australia’s vast landscape and the remote nature of a large portion of the Australian population, inland waterways such as rivers, creeks, streams, lakes, dams and lagoons have become common areas for recreation. Recreational uses of these areas
vary greatly from swimming, recreating and boating, to enjoying picnics and fishing. Natural aquatic environments do, however, increase the risk of drowning.32 This is due to changeable conditions and added risks such as geographical remoteness, lack of supervision of children and alcohol
consumption.32-33 Over the past 10 years, Australia has experienced consistently high numbers of drowning deaths in inland waterway locations.33 Drowning deaths in rivers, creeks and streams have previously been examined in detail,32-33 with lakes, dams and lagoons reviewed more recently.
Location Lake/dam/lagoon River/creek/stream
Inland waterway drowning deaths in Australia from 1st July 2008 to 30th June 2018
10-Year Data Breakdown
1019 People
drowned
1st July 2008
30th June 2018 Inland waterways recorded the largest proportion of drowning deaths in Australia and showed the second greatest reduction in drowning deaths (22%)
Inland waterways
27%
9%
17%
16%
14%
17%
River/creek/stream
Lake/dam/lagoon
Beach
Ocean/harbour
Swimming pool
Other
Falls
Non-aquatic transport
Alcohol
Rivers/creeks
Drugs
Dams
Non-aquatic transport
Drugs
Alcohol
Alcohol
Falls Rivers/creeks
Swimming
Alcohol
Alcohol
Medical condition
Medication
Drugs
Swimming Alcohol
Medical condition Lakes
0.32
0.21
0-4
5-9
0.17
0.24
0.52
0.49
0.41
0.42
0.46
0.61
0.73
10-14
15-17
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75+
Drowning death crude rate by age per 100,000 population from 1st July 2008 to 30th June 2018
Age 13% 45-54 years
13% 35-44 years 17% 25-34 years
Top activities 19% Swimming & recreating 16% Non-aquatic transport
Risk factors 20% Fall
42% Alcohol 45% Pre-existing medical conditions
Index of relative socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD) 42% of people drowning in inland waterways reside in areas of low IRSAD (indicating high socioeconomic disadvantage) compared with an overall average of 30% drowning regardless of where they drowned.
38% Medication
59
102
16%
12% 80
0 49
-11%
51
42
46 41
36
-14%
-22%
22 19
19 17
-29% Bathtub/spa bath
Beach
Inland waterways
Drowning deaths in 2017/18
Ocean/harbour
Rocks
Drowning deaths from 2007 to 2009 (3-year average)
Swimming pool
Comparative trend across all locations
10-year reduction in drowning deaths across all locations
Drowning deaths by remoteness Very remote locations had 22 times more inland waterway drowning deaths than major cities, and 5 times more drowning deaths than inner regional locations.
Drowning deaths by residence 78% of inland waterway drowning deaths were local residents. Remote residents were most at risk of drowning in inland water locations, 65 times more likely than major city residents, and 9 times more likely than outer regional residents.
Drowning deaths based on location of incident
Drowning deaths based on residence
Crude drowning rate per 100,000 population
Crude drowning rate per 100,000 population
298
266
0.18
0.16
Major cities
314
65
0.74
0.15
Inner regional
259
223
1.29
1.11
Outer regional
58
310
1.95
10.40
Remote
83
100
4.03
4.85
Very remote
60
RECOMMENDATIONS Develop partnerships with governments, communities, industry, private sector bodies and public health agencies to address drowning in specific inland waterway environments.
Enhance and build on existing communication strategies and campaigns to promote the dangers of using alcohol and drugs when recreating around water.
Ensure that young children are actively supervised around any aquatic environment, especially in natural waterways where environmental conditions can change quickly and easily.
Engage rural and remote communities to ensure that key messages are being disseminated effectively to acknowledge the differences between rural and remote residents and city dwellers.
Ensure that children under the age of five years living in rural and remote communities have access to swimming and water safety education.
34