Rates and ratios of fatal and nonfatal drowning attended by ambulance in New South Wales, Australia between 2010 and 2021

Abstract

Introduction: Drowning is a preventable cause of mortality, with 279 unintentional drowning deaths per year in Australia. Despite larger estimated numbers, less is known about nonfatal drowning compared to fatalities. This study aimed to examine the burden of fatal and nonfatal drowning in the Australian state of New South Wales using pre-hospital case capture. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of individuals attended by an ambulance in NSW for drowning between 2010 and 2021 was conducted. Ambulance data (paper-based and electronic medical records) were linked to emergency department and death registry. Ratios of fatal to nonfatal drowning were constructed overall, by sex, age, and remoteness of incident and residential locations. Results: 3,973 ambulance-attended drowning patients were identified (an annual rate of 4.16/100,000 persons). Six percent (6.1%; n = 243) died within 30 days, 82.7% (n = 201) of which died on the day of incident, including at the scene. Mean survival time for those who died between 2 and 30 days was 4.6 days. The overall ratio of fatal to nonfatal incidents was 1:15. Ratios were highest for 10–19 year-olds (1:77), females (1:22), and in metropolitan incident (1:20) and residential (1:23) locations. Across the study drowning declined by 14 incidents and 0.18 fatalities per year. Discussion: Temporal trends indicate declining drowning incidents and fatalities. However, this study highlights significant numbers of nonfatal incidents among those traditionally seen as lower risk, such as adolescents and females, necessitating a widened focus on improving water safety among these groups. Conclusions: Nonfatal drowning results in significant, yet preventable health system burden in New South Wales. Practical Applications: This study highlights the importance of documenting the full burden of drowning, including health system impacts of a preventable cause of injury and death. Such data may be used to encourage further investment in primary prevention efforts.