Abstract

Currently, there are an average of 87 drownings in NSW each year. Drowning represents the sixth most common cause of accidental death in NSW. As described by Williamson and Schmertmann in the previous article, certain age groups demonstrate higher incidences of drowning, and males in general are more likely to die as a result of drowning than females. As incidents of drowning and near-drowning are considered to be largely preventable, they are a major safety concern for the community.