FRESHWATER DROWNING AND NEAR–DROWNING ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN: A FIVE–YEAR TOTAL POPULATION STUDY

TLDR

Unsupervised children in fresh water face a 50 % fatality risk when they lose consciousness. The study aims to identify factors behind the high incidence of childhood freshwater drowning and compare rates with other centers. A five‑year population study in Brisbane examined 111 freshwater immersion accidents among children. The study reports the highest ever childhood freshwater drowning rate of 10.43 per 100 000 per year (fatality 5.17), a doubling over six years, with toddlers experiencing a 50.01 per 100 000 rate (fatality 22.55) and site‑specific rates for pools and bathtubs.

Abstract

A large total population study of childhood fresh water immersion accidents is reported. The study was undertaken in the City of Brisbane over the five-year period 1971 to 1975 inclusive, and 111 fresh water immersion accidents involving children were studied and analysed. The childhood fresh water immersion accident rate, including drowning and near-drownings, of 10.43 per year per 100,000 at risk (fatality rate of 5.17) is the highest reported. If an unsupervised child gets into difficulties in fresh water and loses consciousness he has a 50% chance of dying. The immersion accident rate has doubled over the last six years. Age-specific immersion accident rates have been calculated, and have revealed that, in the toddler group (12 months to 23 months), the fresh water immersion accident rate is 50.01 per 100,000 (fatality rate of 22.55). Rates for drowning and near-drowning accidents after a fresh water immersion, by site, age and outcome (survival versus fatality), are also presented for the first time. Swimming pools produce 6.20 immersion accidents per year per 100,000 children at risk, and the domestic family bath tub produces 1.78. Possible factors explaining the high incidence are discussed, and comparisons of drowning rates from other centres are made.