Drowning In New Zealand

As an Island nation blessed with beautiful beaches, a spectacular coastline and many magnificent lakes and rivers it is no surprise that New Zealanders like to spend so much time in and around water.

It’s something we take for granted. It’s fun, familiar and…

A COLD KILLER

Drowning – A Definition Drowning has been identified as a major global health problem. In 2002 world experts in clinical medicine, injury epidemiology, education and rescue developed an internationally accepted definition for drowning. Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/ immersion in liquid.1 It is important to note that the definition allows for both cases of fatal and non-fatal drowning which it is believed will lead to more reliable and comprehensive information on this global public health problem. It is salutary that in New Zealand, for every one fatality there are 8 near fatal drowning incidents.

“Researchers have shown that a human in a drowning situation holds their breathe for 87 seconds. That’s how long the instinct not to breathe can overcome the thought of running out of air; how long a sort of clear headedness lasts. Eighty-seven is the break point. Until the break point a drowning person is said to be undergoing “voluntary apnea” – choosing not to breathe. Lack of oxygen to the brain causes a sensation of darkness closing in from all sides. The panic of a drowning person is mixed with the odd incredulity that this is actually happening. Having never drowned before the body and the mind do not know how to die gracefully.

When the first involuntary breath is taken most people are still conscious, which is unfortunate because the only thing more unpleasant than running out of air is breathing water. At this point the person goes from voluntary to involuntary apnea and the drowning begins in earnest. A spasmodic breath drags water into the mouth and windpipe and then one of two things happens. In about 10 percent of people water touching the vocal cords triggers an immediate contraction in the muscles around the larynx. This is called laryngospasm and it’s so powerful that it overcomes the breathing reflex and eventually suffocates the person. A person with laryngospasm dies without water in the lungs.

In the other 90 per cent of people water floods the lungs and ends any warning transfer of oxygen to the blood. The clock is running down now; half- conscious and enfeebled by oxygen depletion, the drowning person is in no condition to fight. They have suffered for a minute or two. Their bodies, having imposed increasingly drastic measures to keep functioning, have finally started to shut down. Only the brain is alive, but its electrical activity gets weaker and weaker until, after minutes, it ceases altogether.” (Copyright 1997 Sebastian Junger. Published by Fourth Estate. Reproduced with permission of Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency.)

Drowning in New Zealand Facts:

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death. * New Zealand has almost double Australia’s drowning rate.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death. * New Zealand has almost double Australia’s drowning rate. * New Zealand’s drowning rate is over 4 times that of Great Britain.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death. * New Zealand has almost double Australia’s drowning rate and over 4 times that of Great Britain. * More people drown in rivers than in any other NZ aquatic environment. In the past twenty years, 945 people have drowned in NZ rivers.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death. * New Zealand has almost double Australia’s drowning rate and over 4 times that of Great Britain. * More people drown in rivers than in any other NZ aquatic environment. In the past twenty years, 945 people have drowned in NZ rivers. * On average, four children under five drown in pools per annum.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * New Zealanders grow up with water. It is a cold killer! On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death. * New Zealand has almost double Australia’s drowning rate and over 4 times that of Great Britain. * More people drown in rivers than in any other NZ aquatic environment. In the past twenty years, 945 people have drowned in NZ rivers. * On average, four children under five drown in pools per annum. * Pacific Islanders make up 8% of the child population, yet they make up 15% of drownings nationally.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death. * New Zealand has almost double Australia’s drowning rate and over 4 times that of Great Britain. * More people drown in rivers than in any other NZ aquatic environment. In the past twenty years, 945 people have drowned in NZ rivers. * On average, four children under five drown in pools per annum. * Pacific Islanders make up 8% of the child population, yet they make up 15% of drownings nationally. * Maori children make up 25% of the child population, yet they make up 33% of drownings nationally.

Drowning in New Zealand Facts: * On average, (last five years) around 126 die in water every year in New Zealand. * Drowning is New Zealand’s third highest cause of accidental death. * New Zealand has almost double Australia’s drowning rate and over 4 times that of Great Britain. * More people drown in rivers than in any other NZ aquatic environment. In the past twenty years, 945 people have drowned in NZ rivers. * On average, four children under five drown in pools per annum. * Pacific Islanders make up 8% of the child population, yet they make up 15% of drownings nationally. * Maori children make up 25% of the child population, yet they make up 33% of drownings nationally. * Nearly 80% of all NZ drownings are male.

Is it improving?

Yes

New Zealand Average Drowning Toll New Zealand Average Drowning Toll

The annual average drowning toll has decreased significantly. 1980's = 181 per annum average 1990's = 143 per annum average (7 years) = 121 per annum average 59%* of all drownings are a result of non-recreational accidents, ie. drownings which (primarily) occur when there was no intention of entering the water. Non-recreation accidents which result in death by drowning are a risk to all in the community. 41%* of all drownings are as a result of participation in water recreation, such as boating, swimming, fishing, diving and canoeing, etc. In excess of 77% of all drownings are male victims. * ( DrownBase™ Statistics)

However……….

Drowning Toll for 2007 Increases Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) has released drowning statistics for the year to date. There were five drowning deaths during the month of June which raises the 2007 year to date drowning toll to 53. At the same time last year a record low of 46 drowning deaths had occurred in New Zealand, on the way to a record low annual toll of 89. As at 13 th July, it now stands at 55.

Why?