Education key to prevent more deaths

There were a total of 96 drowning deaths in NZ in 2008. Water Safety NZ (WSNZ) has officially announced the annual drowning toll. It follows one of the highest holiday period drowning tolls in recent time.

2008 is the second lowest annual toll since records began in 1980. In comparison to 10 years ago, there were 148 drowning deaths in 1998.

All drowning incidents in NZ are captured by DrownBase™. WSNZ manages DrownBase™ recognised internationally as the leader in integrated drowning databases.

The average annual drowning toll for the five year period (2003-2007) is 114.

The 2008 toll equates to 2.4 drowning deaths per capita (100,000). Drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death in NZ, behind road vehicle crashes and falls. Even with a reduction in 2008, NZ’s drowning toll is still twice that of Australia on a per capita basis.

There were 60 recreational related drowning deaths in 2008, 63 per cent of the total toll. On average (2003-2007) there are 52 recreational drowning deaths per annum at 46 per cent of the total toll. This is an increase of 17 per cent over the five year (2003-2007) average.

There were 29 (30 per cent) non-recreational drowning deaths in 2008. Non-recreational drowning incidents are when the victim had no intention of being in the water for recreational purposes.

In addition, there were seven (seven per cent) other drowning deaths from activities such as road vehicle and suicide. The five year average (2003-2007) is 29 (26 per cent). Other drowning deaths include other commercial, road vehicle and suicide. These drowning incidents typically cannot be influenced by water safety education.

When other drownings are excluded from analysis, the remaining toll equals 89 drowning deaths. In effect the drowning toll for 2008 has increased, as the five year average (2003-2007) is 84 drowning deaths per annum for total recreational and non-recreational incidents.

WSNZ general manager, Matt Claridge says, “On the face of things there is a reduction in total drownings, but once we look at the actual number of drownings that can be influenced by water safety education, then the toll has increased.

“The large numbers of recreational drownings indicate NZers have a lack of ability and knowledge to enjoy the water safely. Recreational drowning incidents are preventable.

“The 2008 toll supports recent analysis by WSNZ that indicates the drowning toll will rise back to the horrific levels of the 1980’s. Unless NZ children learn to swim whilst at school, generation after generation will continually be exposed to a higher risk of drowning.

“As we know, aquatic activity is diverse and evolving constantly. We also know that 25 per cent of children are unable to get across 25m or manage to keep afloat and tread water. Not enough to suggest they have the skills to save themselves.”

Mr Claridge concludes, “Swim and survival skills are the first step to preventing drowning. Parents need to understand the importance of children learning to swim, but it shouldn’t be a cost based issue.

“All NZ children should learn to swim whilst at school. To achieve this, children must be able to access a pool, school teachers must be trained to teach swim and survival skills and the curriculum must recognise the ability to swim as an outcome.

“It would be unfortunate if NZers continue to drown as generation after generation is lost, due to the lack of real emphasis on development of swim and survival skills.”