Home > Journals > IJARE > Vol. 12 > No. 2 (March 2020)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.12.02.08
Disciplines
Environmental Public Health | Health and Physical Education | Kinesiology | Leisure Studies | Other Public Health | Other Veterinary Medicine | Outdoor Education | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion | Tourism and Travel | Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health
Abstract
The rescuer who drowns can result from the attempted rescue of a human or an animal. We report here a total population analysis of all drowning fatalities for the 14-year period 1–July-2002 to 30-June-2016 which involved an attempted rescue of an animal. Cases were drawn from the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database, which in turn, derived its data primarily from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS). Eight people drowned, all adults (ranging in age from 19-74 years), in the attempted rescue of an animal. Seven of the animals were domestic pet dogs, and in two cases farm animals. Six of the eight fatalities occurred in inland waterways. The AVIR-A syndrome, the ‘Aquatic Victim Instead of Rescuer– Animal’ (AVIR-A) drowning syndrome, is a subset of the AVIR drowning syndrome. Environmental design and regulation are unlikely to prevent this type of fatality. Public awareness, with emphasis on non-contact rescue training should be the approach taken.
Recommended Citation
Pearn, John; Peden, Amy E.; and Franklin, Richard Charles
(2020)
"Drowning of Pet Owners during Attempted Animal Rescues: The AVIR-A Syndrome,"
International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 12:
No.
2, Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.12.02.08
Available at:
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol12/iss2/8
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Environmental Public Health Commons, Health and Physical Education Commons, Kinesiology Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Other Public Health Commons, Other Veterinary Medicine Commons, Outdoor Education Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, Tourism and Travel Commons, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons