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Boating & Watercraft drowning deaths in Australia A 10 year analysis 13 th Australasian Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion Conference November 2017 Stacey Pidgeon, Alison Mahony, Justin Scarr Australian Water Safety Strategy 2016 -

SLIDE 1

Boating & Watercraft drowning deaths in Australia

A 10 year analysis

13th Australasian Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion Conference November 2017

Stacey Pidgeon, Alison Mahony, Justin Scarr

SLIDE 2

Australian Water Safety Strategy 2016 - 2020

 Goal 9: Reduce boating, watercraft and recreational

activity related drowning deaths

Increase access to drowning prevention education and skills for recreational boaters and watercraft users

ii. Advocate for best practice in policy, legislation enforcement

and promotion of lifejacket use

iii. Conduct research into boating and watercraft-related

drowning incidents which assists identification of risk factors and prevention strategies for drowning

SLIDE 3

Aims

To investigate boating & watercraft-related

drowning deaths in Australia between 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2015.

Develop an increased understanding of the

contributing factors of boating and watercraft- related drowning deaths.

Provide recommendations to support new and

existing drowning prevention strategies.

SLIDE 4

 Only unintentional drowning deaths whilst participating in

boating and watercraft-related activity were included

 Sourced from National Coronial Information System  Definitions as per the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2016-2020

Boat Powered vessels e.g. motor boats, jet skis, sail boats, yachts, catamarans, passenger ferries, cruise ships, commercial vessels Watercraft Non powered recreational equipment that can be rowed or paddled e.g. kayaks, canoes, surf skis, surf boards, body boards, inflatable rafts/objects, any boat without a motor, stand up paddle board, kite surfing

Methods

SLIDE 5

Key Findings

39 47 25 33 30 26 34 41 30 33 14 8 9 15 11 15 20 16 10 17

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 Boating Watercraft Linear (Boating) Linear (Watercraft)

473 over 10 years 71.5% boating, 28.5% watercraft

SLIDE 6

Who?

4 4 7 6 36 81 88 82 75 61 29

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0-4yr 5-9yr 10-14yr 15-17yr 18-24yr 25-34yr 35-44yr 45-54yr 55-64yr 65-74yr 75+ Age

92% Men

SLIDE 7

Remoteness & Visitor Status

133 128 114 49 33 12 4

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Major cities Outer regional Inner regional Remote Very remote Offshore Unknown Remoteness classification of incident postcode

Not a visitor

63%

Intrastate visitor 21% Interstate visitor 8% Overseas visitor 5% Unknown 3%

SLIDE 8

Activity & Location

Ocean/Harbour 53%

River/Creek/ Stream 22% Beach 15% Lake/Dam/Lagoon 10%

132 127 58 38 37 19 16 13 12 7 7 5 2 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Activity prior to drowning

SLIDE 9

Key risk factors

Alcohol

 26.2% involved alcohol  58.8% ≥0.05%

Drugs

 30.6% drugs present  31.3% illegal Over 0.05 59%

Under 41%

Alcohol present

BAC ≥0.05% 69% Boaters vs. 25% Watercraft users

SLIDE 10

Key risk factors cont.

108 352 13

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 Yes No Unknown

Multiple fatality event

164 39 54

25 50 75 5 5 No Yes Irrelevant (surfing, body boarding etc.)

Lifejacket status

SLIDE 11

Emerging issues

 Older people  Rural and remote locations  Local residents vs. being a visitor to the drowning

location

 Increase of drug taking and boating  Increase of deaths when using watercraft-related

drowning deaths vs. powered boats

SLIDE 12

Recommendations

To address drugs and boating

Increased enforcement of random drug testing,

especially in regional areas

Agencies to promote the consequences of mixing drugs

(incld. medication), alcohol and boating

Encourage people to manage their medication and be

aware of side effects

SLIDE 13

Recommendations

In Rural and Remote areas

 Installation of personal rescue equipment at boat ramps  Agencies to develop and promote strategies for

communications e.g. use of VHF radios, personal response beacons For Older Adults

 Encourage medical checks on a regular basis  Agencies should consider developing specific programs or

refresher courses for this population

SLIDE 14

Challenges for the future…

Ability to adapt and respond to these new issues

whilst continuing to address key factors such as lifejackets

Sector collaboration to ensure safety messages

are consistent and relevant

Application of research to policy and practice at

the community level

SLIDE 15

QUESTIONS?

Thank You Stacey Pidgeon spidgeon@rlssa.org.au www.Royallifesaving.com.au