The Definition of Drowning:
Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid; outcomes are classified as death, morbidity and no morbidity. (World Health Organisation)
Key facts from the WHO
- Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths.
- There are an estimated 320 000 annual drowning deaths worldwide.
- Global estimates may significantly underestimate the actual public health problem related to drowning.
- Children, males and individuals with increased access to water are most at risk of drowning.
Drowning Worldwide
Within the world’s lifesaving community it is generally accepted that
60% of deaths in cold water happen within the first few minutes of immersion;
60% of deaths will happen within 10 feet (3 metres) of a safe refuge;
66% of those who die will be classified as good swimmers” (1)
Psychology Professor John Leach said that disaster may strike so suddenly that it catches people completely unawares and that the period of impact commonly lasts from a few seconds to many minutes during which there can be an immediate overwhelming of the senses as sensory information – sight, sound, touch, smell and taste - floods the brain. He states that “so much information strikes the victim that he is unable to process and comprehend it and consequently becomes bewildered and numb”. In survival situations “the pressure is on to function rapidly and the survivor can succumb to tension and urgency. The casualty feels the compulsion to do something and this may cause him to leap into action without proper or logical planning.” Professor Leach uses the term ‘a decision dilemma’ and says that in this condition “peoples survival actions are often ineffective because they are unsure of how to act – of which option to choose from those he or she thinks are open to them “. (2)
We can prevent many drownings, possibly even the majority of drownings, but we cannot prevent people from falling into water or getting into trouble when recreating in water, through their own carelessness, ignorance, or as a consequence of natural disasters. All we can do is educate the public on what to do – teach them how to save themselves and exit water or how to lengthen their conscious survival time in water in the hope of their being rescued by others. The project will investigate and publish on ‘how to self-help in different drowning situations’. Professor Leach says that when “ people are suddenly caught in a crisis or emergency or even when they are merely surprised or startled, they frequently respond by falling back on well-learned behaviour patterns no matter how inappropriate these may be to the prevailing circumstances. They perform without reflection.” (2)
It is clear that in drowning situations whether a person lives, dies, survives with permanent physical and mental damage or none at all is determined in the first few crucial minutes of an emergency. There are many different types of water locations and water types ranging from fresh water rivers and lakes, to salt water surf and rip currents – each with specific skill and knowledge needs but all have common features. We will identify what knowledge and skills are common to most or all situations and what apply only to specific locations / situations.
(1) Professor Michael Tipton, Extreme Environments Laboratory, University of Portsmouth & The United Kingdom’s Home Office’s Report of the Working Party on Water Safety (1977). out of print
(2) Professor John Leach (1994), Survival Psychology, Macmillan, London.
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Drowning in Ireland
Water Safety Information
The Foundation identifies areas of risk where specific safety information and advice is needed. We produce leaflets for public use. These include “Foreign Holiday Water Safety” and“Survival Floating”.
Personal Survival
Half of those who drown can swim yet they cannot save themselves when they need to. The Foundation is conducting research into what is lacking in available swimming instruction programmes. We have published a number of documents in this area while also supporting an international research project with a view to greatly improving this situation.
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Suicide by Drowning
The Lifesaving Foundation has been working with a number of Irish rescue services, all of whom have great experience rescuing persons who have deliberately entered water with a view to ending their lives. Ireland has a serious suicide problem but many organisations have developed successful prevention and rescue strategies which, through the Foundation, they are willing to share with the world’s lifesaving community.
Promoting research into suicide by drowning in Ireland the Foundation has worked with leading suicide rescue organisations such as Dublin Fire Brigade, Waterford City River Rescue and Foyle Search & Rescue in Derry. We have published a number of research papers on the subject.
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