TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Impact of COVID-19 on drowning patterns in the Great Lakes region of North America
JO  - Ocean and coastal management
A1  - Houser, Chris
A1  - Vlodarchyk, Brent
SP  - e105570
EP  - e105570
VL  - 205
IS  - 
N2  - The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered personal and group behaviors that may directly or indirectly affect other public health issues. This paper examines if and how COVID-19 indirectly influenced beach safety and drownings within the Great Lakes region using daily drowning data from 2020 in comparison to historical trends in drownings pre-COVID. <br><br>RESULTS suggest that the number of beach drownings in the Great Lakes region was significantly greater compared to the pre-COVID period of 2010-2019. Statistically significant increases in drownings were observed in Lake Michigan (+14), Lake Ontario (+11) and Lake Huron (+4), while no change and a slight decrease was observed in Lake Superior and Lake Erie respectively. Drownings were lower than the historical average early in the pandemic but began to increase as stay-at-home orders were lifted through June and July. It is argued that the increase in drowning is due to a combination of reduced local lifeguard resources, cancelled swimming lessons, large beach crowds, warm weather, high-water levels and self-isolation fatigue. Whether in the Great Lakes region or elsewhere around the world, beach safety cannot be sacrificed in a future public health emergency by budget cuts or by reducing the focus of lifeguards with enforcement of social distancing.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0964-5691
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105570
ID  - ref1
ER  -