Self-reported water and drowning risk exposure at surf beaches
- Authors: Morgan, Damian , Ozanne-Smith, Joan , Triggs, Thomas
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Vol. 33, no. 2 (2009), p. 180-188
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: OBJECTIVE: To document patterns of water exposure at surf beaches by gender and identify factors that predict bather confidence to return to shore if caught in a rip current. METHOD: Recreational surf beach bathers (N=406) provided self-completed data on water exposure patterns, surf activity behaviours and potential drowning risk and protective factors. RESULTS: Relative to females, males visited surf beaches more frequently, expected to spend longer in the water and in deeper water, and more often bathed after using alcohol (p<0.05). Confidence to return to shore if caught in a rip current was predicted by confidence to identify a rip current, self-rated swimming ability, gender, times visited any beach, and age in a standard linear regression model (adjusted R(2)=0.68). CONCLUSION: The study supports explanations that high male drowning rates result from more frequent exposure to water than females at high situational risk levels. IMPLICATIONS: Controlled studies are required to determine the role in drowning of overconfidence, swimming ability, surf experience, floatation .
Direct observation measurement of drowning risk exposure for surf beach bathers
- Authors: Morgan, Damian , Ozanne-Smith, Joan , Triggs, Thomas
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 12, no. 72 (2009), p. 457-462
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Because not all persons bathe at surf beaches, drowning rates based on resident population are likely to be underreported. To facilitate more precise drowning risk exposure data, this study aimed to develop a reliable direct observation measure of frequency and duration for surf beach bather exposure to water, by gender and age group. Bathers were defined as persons entering the water to wade, swim or surf with equipment. Observed bathers were systematically selected entering the water in daylight hours at six patrolled or unpatrolled beaches over 10 days. Variables measured were: weather and water conditions, water entries, duration of water exposure, water exposure location and person factors. The dataset comprised 204 (69.6%) males and 89 (30.4%) females, with males more likely to be in an older age group (p < 0.05). Compared to females, males spent longer in the water, were more likely to use surfing equipment, and mainly used a surf zone located farther from the shore in deeper water (p < 0.05). Two factors were significant predictors of bathing duration (adjusted R2 = 0.45): main surf zone occupied (based on water depth and distance from shore); and surf equipment used. The study provides new information about water exposure for bathers at surf beaches and new methods for measuring exposure to drowning risk. The findings suggest that overrepresentation of adolescent and adult males in surf beach drowning statistics is in part a product of greater total exposure to the water plus more frequent exposure to deeper water and bathing farther from shore.
Descriptive epidemiology of drowning deaths in a surf beach swimmer and surfer population
- Authors: Morgan, Damian , Ozanne-Smith, Joan , Triggs, Thomas
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 14, no. 1 (2008), p.62-65.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Retrospective data extraction from two complementary mortality datasets determined the descriptive epidemiology and population rates in unintentional drowning deaths at surf beaches (n = 129). The annual average crude surf beach drowning rate was 0.28 per 100 000 population for males and 2.36 per 100 000 population for international tourists. The study generated hypotheses for risk assessment to assist intervention: adult males, international tourists, people with cardiovascular conditions, and exposure to rip currents.