Inland Waterways Drowning Prevention project : A study of urban waterway users in two Australian states Grace Strugnell 1 , Rhiannon Birch 1 , Stephanie Enkel 2 , Damian Morgan 3 , Lauren Nimmo 2 , Dr. Bernadette Matthews 1 1 Life Saving Victoria 2 Royal Life Saving Society WA 3 Federation University Australia, Federation Business School and ACRISP
Acknowledgements This research is presented on land within the Kulin Nation. Acknowledgment to Country Royal Life Saving Society – Western Australia Federation University Australia Royal Life Saving Society – Australia The Australian Government Respect the River – Saving lives in Australian rivers (national awareness campaign) All staff involved in the project
Background – Rivers, creeks and streams Yarra Swan Yarra Swan 1,113 87% 85% 3rd 4th deaths Nationally ranked Across Australia Proportion of male 2002 – 2017 river drowning drowning deaths blackspots 2002 – 2017
In the media: Risk-taking behaviour Non-fatal drowning (injury); The Age Online Fatal drowning; ABC Online November 21 2016 January 16 2017
Addressing the issue Determine ideal strategies to Knowledge Assessment prevent inland of water of drowning waterway exposure risk aquatic injury and death
Aim In, on or To identify and around the document in situ waterbody behaviours that may place persons at relatively high drowning Investigate risk for the Yarra and behavioural Swan Rivers. patterns of waterway users Lifejacket Alcohol use for consumption boaters Swan River December 2016; Recreation zone, site 2.3
Methods
Methods
Methods Simultaneous direct observations at both rivers Randomised times 9 observation sites and days for each river Data collected over a 12-month period, concluding November 2017 Number of people present, activities Yarra River July 2017; Recreation zone, site 2.1 undertaken and observable demographic data
Results 11,363 individual observations over summer / autumn / winter Seasonal Variation Seasonal Variation (no. of observations) - Yarra (no. of observations) - Swan 29% 30% 38% 37% Summer Summer Autumn Autumn 33% 34% Winter Winter
Results - Demographics 18 – 59 0 – 14 years old years old Yarra 56% Yarra Yarra 85% 2% Swan 53% Swan Swan 69% 12%
Results – Activity details YARRA SWAN Recreation 52% 86% Activity Transit 41% 11% type Work related 6% 3% Walking 33% 36% Activity detail Talking/ device use 29% 28% similarities Relaxing 23% 20% Rowing 11% 0.3% Activity Cycling 12% 4% detail Picnics 0.4% 6% differences Sightseeing 3% 19% Yarra River September 2017; CBD location, site 1.3
Results – Risk factors YARRA SWAN Consuming alcohol 4.4% 3.3% Not wearing lifejacket 9.7% 10.4% Company – alone Risk 42% 27% Factors Company – with children 7% 21% Company – children aged 15% 17% 0 – 9 not actively supervised Right: Risky behaviour showing no lifejackets and standing up in a small boat at dusk. Above: Yarra River October 2017; CBD location, site 1.1
What next? Survey Analysis Intervention Yarra River August 2017; Recreation location, between sites 2.1 and 2.2
Conclusion
References Life Saving Victoria. (2015). Victorian Drowning Report 2014/2015 . Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne. Life Saving Victoria. (2016). Victorian Drowning Report 2015/2016 . Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne. Royal Life Saving Society – Australia. (2017). Australian rivers have claimed more than 1,000 lives due to drowning in the past 15 years. Retrieved from: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/news-and- events/news-items/australian-rivers-have-claimed-more-than-1,000-lives-due-to-drowning-in-the-past- 15-years.
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