@article{ref1,
title="The prevention of child drowning: the causal factors and social determinants impacting fatalities in portable pools",
journal="Health promotion journal of Australia",
year="2019",
author="Peden, Amy Elizabeth and Franklin, Richard Charles and Pearn, John H.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="ISSUE ADDRESSED: There is a scarcity of research into portable pool drowning and its prevention. This total population study examines fatal drowning among children under five in portable pools in Australia. <br><br>METHODS: All child drowning deaths in portable pools for the period 1-July-2002 to 30-June-2018 were identified. A portable pool was defined as any structure used for swimming and wading which, when emptied, can be moved. <br><br>RESULTS: Twenty-three children (aged 0-17 years) drowned in portable pools. The drowning rate for children less than 5 years of age was (0.09 per 100,000 population). The peak age of death was 12-23 months (RR=2.99; CI: 1.09-8.23), with the majority (n=20 deaths) aged 16-31 months. Ninety percent followed a fall into water. None were supervised. Children commonly resided in areas classified as socially and economically disadvantaged (85%; n=17). Drowning rates in very remote areas were 15 times greater (RR=15.41; CI: 0.03-7579.65) than city children. Eleven (55%) drowning deaths occurred in pools with a depth >300mm, of which 10 (91%) were known to be unfenced. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Social determinants impact child drowning in portables pools, which can occur quickly and in just 150mm of water. Active supervision and a regulation-compliant barrier are effective prevention stratagems, factors which were absent from the deaths in this study. SO WHAT?: Portable pool drowning disproportionately impacts those aged 16-31 months who reside in very remote areas and areas classified as having high socio-economic disadvantage. Education for these groups on fencing and supervision of children must be provided.<br><br>This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1036-1073",
doi="10.1002/hpja.282",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hpja.282"
}