MONASH DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE Built environment and drowning mortality Historical study of the development of the built environment and its impact on drowning Carolyn Staines & Joan Ozanne-Smith
Drowning mortality – developing community • Most drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries • Limited information to inform prevention strategies • Historical study of an evolving community to identify factors associated with changes in drowning mortality State of Victoria, Australia – historical case study – 19 th and - 20 th centuries - Records of coronial inquests – who, how, why - Historical records – broader context for mortality and changes 2
Drowning mortality – Victoria, Australia Drowning deaths per 100,000 population 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 1861 1864 > 50 deaths per 100,000 1867 1870 1873 1876 1879 1882 1885 1888 1891 1894 1897 1900 < 20 deaths per 100,000 1903 1906 1909 1912 1915 1918 1921 1924 1927 Year 1930 1933 1936 1939 1942 1945 1948 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 < 1 death per 100,000 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 3
Built environment in Victoria Gold rush era • Discovery of gold in 1851 • Rapid increase in population • New settlements across state Goldfields, Ballarat, Victoria 1851 Image source: Australian Mining History Assoc. Location of main goldfields, 1861 4
Mining settlements – hazardous environments Image source: East Gippsland Historical Society Goldfields, Castlemaine, Victoria, 1858 Image source: State Library Victoria 5
1863 – Peak year for drowning Hazards magnified by floods • 1863 highest mortality • 1863 widespread flooding • Holes, ditches or diggings become filled • In absence of safe bridges, waterway crossing more hazardous Image source: State Library Victoria Gippsland Times 20 February 1863 6
Waterholes & quarries Bluestone quarry, Footscray, Victoria, ca. 1890s Image source: Living Museum Argus newspaper 1863 7
Infrastructure development – Roads & bridges 19 th century 1930s depression - sustenance workers Road and bridge construction, 1859 Bridge construction over Goulburn River, 1873 8 Image source: State Library Victoria
Infrastructure development - Water management • Reticulated water systems • Flood management measures • Victorian Water Conservation Act 1881 Flood regulating gates, Bendigo ca. 1900 - ca. 1953 Image source: State Library Victoria Stony Creek Reservoir, 1873 9 Image source: Barwon Water
Urbanisation . 60 50 Drowning deaths per 100,000 40 30 20 10 0 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911 1921 1933 Year % residing in metropolitan regions Drowning death rate 10
Swimming & water safety • 1910 Education Department introduced swimming and lifesaving instruction - limited by availability of suitable venues • Safety structures or pools within large bodies Swimming class in Goulburn River, Victoria, 1910 Image source: Museum Victoria of water or rivers Early public swimming pool, 1937 11 Image source: State Library Victoria
Public swimming pool growth Image source: State Library Victoria • 1956 Olympic Games, Melbourne - growth in Olympic pool, Maryborough, Victoria, 1953 Image source: State Library Victoria construction of public pools 1956 Olympic Games Melbourne Number of public swimming pools owned by local government agencies in Victoria Wangaratta, Victoria, 1970 Image source: State Library Victoria Data source: Aquatics and Recreation Victoria 12 Image source: State Library Victoria
Private swimming pools & spas Image source: State Library Victoria Legislative response • 1991 - Safety barriers around home pools • 2002 - Self-closing devices to doors and gates • 2010 – No direct access to the pool area via a door from a building • 2017 - Calls for mandatory inspections Image source: Kidsafe Australia 13
Built environment – drowning mortality Drowning deaths per 100,000 population 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 1861 1864 1867 1870 1873 1876 1879 1882 1885 1888 1891 1894 1897 • • 1900 1903 Identify potential drowning hazards and solutions Built environment both causing and preventing drowning 1906 1909 1912 1915 1918 1921 1924 1927 Year 1930 1933 1936 1939 1942 1945 1948 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 14
150 years later – developing communities today 26 August 2017 Two youths drowned in stone quarrying pit in Satna district, India 4 September 2017 Three young boys, including two brothers, drowned in a deserted mine filled with water in Gwalior district, India 11 September 2017 Two cousins drowned in rainwater-filled stone mining pit in their village in Gwalior district, India Image source: wn.com 15
Recommend
More recommend
