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released: 2 Apr 2008 author: Henley G & Kreisfield R media release

This report presents national statistics on deaths and hospitalisations due to drowning for the five-year period 1999-00 to 2003-04. Drowning occurs in a number of settings and contexts: in bodies of natural water, in swimming pools and bathtubs, in association with watercraft and as the result of intentional self-harm. Drownings resulting in death and hospitalisation are described in relation to these in terms of case numbers and rates, by age and sex, remoteness of usual residence, length of stay in hospital, and other characteristics. This report will be relevant to anyone interested in gaining an insight into patterns of fatal and non-fatal drowning and the burden they impose on the Australian community.

ISSN 1444-3791; ISBN 978 174024 757 3; Cat. no. INJCAT 109; 111pp.; Out of print

Publication

Publication table of contents

  • Contents
  • Executive summary
  • Total drownings
  • Deaths
  • Hospitalisations
  • Identifying cases with potential for severe or persisting consequences of drowning resulting in hospitalisation
  • Specific types of drowning
  • Natural bodies of water
  • Swimming pools
  • Bathtubs
  • Watercraft
  • Self-harm
  • Abbreviations
  • 1 Introduction
    • 1.1 Case selection criteria
    • 1.2 New definition of drowning
  • 2 Total drownings
    • 2.1 Age and sex
    • 2.2 Trends over time
    • 2.3 State or territory of residence
    • 2.4 Remoteness of residence
    • 2.5 Associated factors
    • 2.6 Month of drowning
    • 2.7 Length of stay in hospital
    • 2.8 Activity at time of injury
    • 2.9 Severe or persisting consequences of drowning events in hospitalised patients
      • 2.9.1 Defining severe or persisting consequences of near-drowning event
      • 2.9.2 Identifying cases with potential for severe or persisting consequences of drowning
      • 2.9.3 Overview
      • 2.9.4 Occurrence of cases with potentially severe or persisting consequences of drowning .
      • 2.9.5 Hospitalisations having anoxic brain injury, ventilatory support or airway management
      • 2.9.6 Hospitalisations requiring ventilatory support
    • 2.10 Types of drowning
    • 2.10.1 Other transport-related drowning
    • 2.10.2 Assault by drowning
    • 2.10.3 Residual drownings and submersions
    • 2.11 Literature
  • 3 Unintentional drowning
    • 3.1 Drowning in a natural body of water
      • 3.1.1 Age and sex
      • 3.1.2 Trends over time
      • 3.1.3 Remoteness of residence
      • 3.1.4 Associated factors
      • 3.1.5 Month of drowning
      • 3.1.6 Length of stay in hospital
      • 3.1.7 Literature
    • 3.2 Swimming pool drownings
      • 3.2.1 Age and sex
      • 3.2.2 Trends over time
      • 3.2.3 Remoteness of residence
      • 3.2.4 Associated factors
      • 3.2.5 Month of drowning
      • 3.2.6 Length of stay in hospital
      • 3.2.7 Coronial data
      • 3.2.8 Literature
    • 3.3 Bathtub drownings
      • 3.3.1 Age and sex
      • 3.3.2 Trends over time
      • 3.3.3 Remoteness of residence
      • 3.3.4 Associated factors
      • 3.3.5 Length of stay in hospital
      • 3.3.6 Coronial data
      • 3.3.7 Literature
    • 3.4 Watercraft drownings
      • 3.4.1 Age and sex
      • 3.4.2 Trends over time
      • 3.4.3 Remoteness of residence
      • 3.4.4 Associated factors
      • 3.4.5 Length of stay in hospital
      • 3.4.6 Literature
  • 4 Intentional drowning
    • 4.1 Self-harm by drowning
      • 4.1.1 Age and sex
      • 4.1.2 Trends over time
      • 4.1.3 Remoteness of residence
      • 4.1.4 Associated factors
      • 4.1.5 Drowning by month
      • 4.1.6 Length of stay in hospital
      • 4.1.7 Literature
  • 5 Discussion
  • Appendix 1 Data issues
    • Mortality data
      • Data sources
      • Selection criteria
      • Multiple causes of death
      • Ascertainment of cases: year of death
      • Years of potential life lost
      • Age adjustment
      • Confidence intervals
      • Trend analysis
      • Data quality
      • Associated factors
      • Remoteness of residence
    • Hospitalisations data
      • Data sources
      • Selection criteria
      • Confidence intervals
      • Age adjustment
      • Errors, inconsistencies and uncertainties
      • Remoteness of residence
    • Coronial data
  • References
  • List of tables
  • List of figures

Recommended citation

Henley G & Kreisfield R 2008. Deaths and hospitalisations due to drowning, Australia 1999-00 to 2003-04. Injury research and statistics series no. 39. Cat. no. INJCAT 109. Canberra: AIHW.