Understanding Contributing Factors to Child Drownings in Public Pools in Australia: a Review of National Coronial Records

Authors

Lauren A. Petrass Dr, Federation University AustraliaFollow
Jennifer Blitvich, Federation UniversityFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.10.01.03

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Early Childhood Education | Health and Physical Education | Other Kinesiology | Sports Studies

Abstract

This study examined the incidence and circumstances associated with child drowning in public pools in Australia; and identified the frequency and nature of coroners’ recommendations. Retrospective case-series analysis of child (aged 0-10 years) unintentional drowning deaths in public pools were conducted based on Coronial data. A total of 12 child drownings were identified. A lack of supervision was recognized as the key contributing factor in 92% of cases, with the caregiver responsible for multiple children (83%); older children supervising younger children (17%); and a busy pool environment (25%) consistently linked with in-adequate supervision. To address drownings in public pools it is essential that coroner recommendations reach 1) aquatic centres so they can improve their practices; and 2) aquatic stakeholders so that strategies can be developed. Strategies that highlight techniques to assist caregivers responsible for multiple children and how best to provide supervision in a busy pool environment should be a focus.

Recommended Citation

Petrass, Lauren A. Dr and Blitvich, Jennifer (2017) "Understanding Contributing Factors to Child Drownings in Public Pools in Australia: a Review of National Coronial Records," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 10: No. 1, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.10.01.03
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol10/iss1/3