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Journal of Medical Internet Research Sep 2023Selfie-related injury has become a public health concern amid the near ubiquitous use of smartphones and social media apps. Of particular concern are selfie-related... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Selfie-related injury has become a public health concern amid the near ubiquitous use of smartphones and social media apps. Of particular concern are selfie-related deaths at aquatic locations; areas often frequented because of their photogenic allure. Unfortunately, such places exhibit hazards inherent with their environment.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to ascertain current evidence regarding selfie-related injuries and recommended risk treatment measures in the academic literature as well as how selfie-related injuries and deaths were being reported by the media, allowing us to identify key challenges facing land managers and public health practitioners in mitigating selfie-related injuries and deaths.
METHODS
Between October and December 2022, we performed a narrative review of peer-reviewed literature published since January 2011. Literature was screened to identify causal factors implicated in selfie-related deaths and injuries, as well as risk treatments recommended. Furthermore, we used an environmental scan methodology to search for media reports of selfie-related injuries and deaths at aquatic locations in Australia and the United States. Individual cases of selfie-related aquatic injuries and deaths sourced from news reports were analyzed to assess epidemiological characteristics, and a thematic content analysis was conducted to identify key themes of news reporting on selfie-related deaths and injuries.
RESULTS
In total, 5 peer-reviewed studies were included. Four studies identified falls from height as the most common injury mechanism in selfie incidents. Drowning was the second most common cause of death. Recommended risk treatments were limited but included the adoption of "no selfie zones," physical barriers, signage, and provision of information on dangerous locations to social media users. In total, 12 cases were identified from media reports (4 injuries and 8 fatalities; 7 in Australia and 5 in the United States). The mean age of the reported victims was 22.1 (SD 6.93) years with victims more likely to be female tourists. Content analysis revealed 3 key themes from media reports: "blame," "warning," and "prevention and education." Few media reports (n=8) provided safety recommendations.
CONCLUSIONS
The selfie-related incident phenomenon should be viewed as a public health problem that requires a public health risk communication response. To date, little attention has been paid to averting selfie-related incidents through behavior change methodologies or direct messaging to users, including through social media apps. Although previous research has recommended "no selfie zones," barriers, and signage as ways to prevent selfie incidents, our results suggest this may not be enough, and it may be prudent to also engage in direct safety messaging to social media users. Media reporting of selfie incidents should focus on preventive messaging rather than blame or warning.
Topics: Humans; Female; Young Adult; Adult; Male; Communications Media; Social Media; Australia; Educational Status
PubMed: 37756044
DOI: 10.2196/47202 -
Journal of Safety Research Dec 2023Lifeguards must maintain alertness and monitor an aquatic space across extended periods. However, lifeguard research has yet to investigate a lifeguard's ability to...
INTRODUCTION
Lifeguards must maintain alertness and monitor an aquatic space across extended periods. However, lifeguard research has yet to investigate a lifeguard's ability to maintain performance over time and whether this is influenced by years of certified experience or the detection difficulty of a drowning incident. The aim of this study was to examine whether lifeguard experience, drowning duration, bather number, and time on task influences drowning detection performance.
METHOD
A total of 30 participants took part in nine 60-minute lifeguard specific tasks that included 11 drowning events occurring at five-minute intervals. Each task had manipulated conditions that acted as the independent variables, including bather number and drowning duration.
RESULTS
The experienced group detected a greater number of drowning events per task, compared to novice and naïve groups. Findings further highlighted that time, bather number, and drowning duration has a substantial influence on lifeguard specific drowning detection performance.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
It is hoped that the outcome of the study will have applied application in highlighting the critical need for lifeguard organizations to be aware of a lifeguard's capacity to sustain attention, and for researchers to explore methods for minimizing any decrement in vigilance performance.
Topics: Humans; Drowning; Wakefulness; Attention; Awareness
PubMed: 38081714
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.08.014 -
BMC Public Health Sep 2023Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children and youth worldwide. This study aims to examine differences in the rates of drowning (fatal and non-fatal...
OBJECTIVE
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children and youth worldwide. This study aims to examine differences in the rates of drowning (fatal and non-fatal drowning) among children and youth in Israel stratified by age, sex, sector, place of drowning, and the drowning outcome. In addition, we compared the results of studies reported in other countries in specific age groups based on statistics of about 100,000 drowning cases.
METHOD
A statistical analysis of 474 drownings between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. All cases refer to youngsters aged 7-17 in the State of Israel. Statistical analysis was performed on data obtained from the Beterem - Safe Kids Israel organization and from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Disparities between groups within the examined population were analyzed based on gender, sector (Jewish versus non-Jewish), and drowning site.
RESULTS
Of the 474 drownings that occurred during 2008-2018, 38.4% ended in death. 79% of the cases occurred in pools. The Arab minority sector (21.1% of the general population) accounted for 25.1% of all drownings, males accounted for 70.5% of the drowning cases, and the age group with the most drownings (48.5%) was that of 15-17 years. The Jewish population was involved in more than 75% of drownings in places designated for bathing and in more than 83% of all disaster scenarios, whereas the Arab minority was involved in more than 61% of drownings in places not designated for bathing.
CONCLUSIONS
The results are comparable to those of other studies worldwide. Boys drown twice as much as girls, mainly in the age group of 15-17. This may be explained by overconfidence in boys and a tendency to overestimate their actual swimming abilities. Most drownings occur in pools. Drowning among the Jewish population occurs mainly in designated bathing sites.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
The findings can and, in fact, must be used to inform and educate the younger generation as to the potential dangers involving bathing in designated bathing sites.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Adolescent; Child; Drowning; Israel; Arabs; Disasters; Jews
PubMed: 37658286
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16671-y -
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly... May 2024Drowning is the cause of approximately 4,000 U.S. deaths each year and disproportionately affects some age, racial, and ethnic groups. Infrastructure disruptions during...
INTRODUCTION
Drowning is the cause of approximately 4,000 U.S. deaths each year and disproportionately affects some age, racial, and ethnic groups. Infrastructure disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including limited access to supervised swimming settings, might have affected drowning rates and risk. Data on factors that contribute to drowning risk are limited. To assess the potential impact of the pandemic on drowning death rates, pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic rates were compared.
METHODS
National Vital Statistics System data were used to compare unintentional drowning death rates in 2019 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic onset) with those in 2020, 2021, and 2022 (post-pandemic onset) by age, sex, and race and ethnicity. National probability-based online panel survey (National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System) data from October-November 2023 were used to describe adults' self-reported swimming skill, swimming lesson participation, and exposure to recreational water.
RESULTS
Unintentional drowning death rates were significantly higher during 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared with those in 2019. In all years, rates were highest among children aged 1-4 years; significant increases occurred in most age groups. The highest drowning rates were among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black or African American persons. Approximately one half (54.7%) of U.S. adults reported never having taken a swimming lesson. Swimming skill and swimming lesson participation differed by age, sex, and race and ethnicity.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE
Recent increases in drowning rates, including those among populations already at high risk, have increased the urgency of implementing prevention strategies. Basic swimming and water safety skills training can reduce the risk for drowning. Addressing social and structural barriers that limit access to this training might reduce drowning deaths and inequities. The U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan provides recommendations and tools for communities and organizations to enhance basic swimming and water safety skills training.
Topics: Humans; Drowning; Swimming; United States; Male; Adult; Female; Young Adult; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Child; Middle Aged; Infant; COVID-19; Aged; Self Report; Recreation
PubMed: 38781109
DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7320e1 -
Brain and Behavior Dec 2023According to the Global Report on Drowning: Preventing a Leading Killer and Preventing Drowning: An Implementation Guide, two documents released by the World Health...
BACKGROUND
According to the Global Report on Drowning: Preventing a Leading Killer and Preventing Drowning: An Implementation Guide, two documents released by the World Health Organization in 2014 and 2017, respectively, 372,000 people drown each year globally (approximately 42 per hour), half of whom are below 25 years old. Chinese adolescents aged 18-24 years are the main victim group. Intermediate swimming college students are more susceptible to risk-taking behavior and drowning while swimming. In particular, college students with high-sensation-seeking levels have greater confidence in their swimming ability. Consequently, they tend to overestimate their skills and pursue exciting experiences while underestimating or ignoring the risk factors in the situation. The scores of college students in sensation-seeking show a significant positive correlation with highly risky swimming behavior. However, the correlation with the reaction time to hazards is unclear. In this study, using previous theories, the sensation-seeking scale, and the measurement of the reaction time to hazards, we clearly explain why "college students with higher levels of sensation-seeking have a higher risk of drowning." We examined the reaction time to hazards and eye movement data of intermediate swimming college students with different sensation-seeking levels, while controlling the obviousness of hazards in the videos for the experiment.
METHODS
We utilized 16 videos of students swimming as experimental stimuli and employed a mixed experimental design of 2 (sensation-seeking: high, low) × 2 (hazard type: obvious hazard, hidden hazard). Sensation-seeking, the between-subjects variable, was categorized into two levels (high and low). The hazard type, the within-subjects variable, was also divided into two categories (obvious and hidden). We analyzed the disparities in reaction time to hazards and eye-movement data between intermediate swimming college students with high (N = 28) or low (N = 28) levels of sensation-seeking.
RESULTS
Intermediate swimming college students with high levels of sensation-seeking exhibited significantly longer reaction times to both obvious (F = 6.251, p = .000 < .001) and hidden (F = 49.438, p = .000 < .001) hazards compared to their low-sensation-seeking counterparts. The first fixation duration of intermediate swimming college students on obvious hazards was shorter than that on hidden hazards (F = 13.596, p = .000 < .001), and the average fixation duration of intermediate swimming college students with high levels of sensation-seeking on hidden hazards proved to be significantly shorter (F = 5.498, p = .000 < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
High-sensation-seeking intermediate swimming college students exhibited longer reaction times to hidden hazards compared to their low-sensation-seeking peers. These findings indicate that a high-sensation-seeking tendency can result in delayed reaction times and a disregard for response measures among intermediate swimming college students.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Adult; Drowning; Swimming; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Students; Sensation
PubMed: 38031238
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3338 -
Annals of Intensive Care Apr 2024Drowning-associated pneumonia (DAP) is frequent in drowned patients, and possibly increases mortality. A better understanding of the microorganisms causing DAP could... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Drowning-associated pneumonia (DAP) is frequent in drowned patients, and possibly increases mortality. A better understanding of the microorganisms causing DAP could improve the adequacy of empirical antimicrobial therapy. We aimed to describe the pooled prevalence of DAP, the microorganisms involved, and the impact of DAP on drowned patients.
METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 01/2000 and 07/2023 reporting on DAP occurrence and microorganisms involved.
RESULTS
Of 309 unique articles screened, 6 were included, involving 688 patients. All were retrospective cohort studies, with a number of patients ranging from 37 to 270. Studies were conducted in Europe (France N = 3 and Netherland N = 1), United States of America (N = 1) and French West Indies (N = 1). Mortality ranged between 18 to 81%. The pooled prevalence of DAP was 39% (95%CI 29-48), similarly following freshwater (pooled prevalence 44%, 95%CI 36-52) or seawater drowning (pooled prevalence 42%, 95%CI 32-53). DAP did not significantly impact mortality (pooled odds ratio 1.43, 95%CI 0.56-3.67) but this estimation was based on two studies only. Respiratory samplings isolated 171 microorganisms, mostly Gram negative (98/171, 57%) and mainly Aeromonas sp. (20/171, 12%). Gram positive microorganisms represented 38/171 (22%) isolates, mainly Staphylococcus aureus (21/171, 12%). Water salinity levels had a limited impact on the distribution of microorganisms, except for Aeromonas sp. who were exclusively found following freshwater drowning (19/106, 18%) and never following seawater drowning (0%) (p = 0.001). No studies reported multidrug-resistant organisms but nearly 30% of the isolated microorganisms were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanate, the drug that was the most commonly prescribed empirically for DAP.
CONCLUSIONS
DAP are commonly caused by Gram-negative bacteria, especially Aeromonas sp. which is exclusively isolated following freshwater drowning. Empirical antimicrobial therapy should consider covering them, noting than amoxicillin-clavulanate may be inadequate in about one-third of the cases. The impact of DAP on patients' outcome is still unclear.
PubMed: 38641650
DOI: 10.1186/s13613-024-01287-1 -
Journal of Thermal Biology Jan 2024Cold water immersion (CWI) evokes the life-threatening reflex cold shock response (CSR), inducing hyperventilation, increasing cardiac arrhythmias, and increasing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Cold water immersion (CWI) evokes the life-threatening reflex cold shock response (CSR), inducing hyperventilation, increasing cardiac arrhythmias, and increasing drowning risk by impairing safety behaviour. Repeated CWI induces CSR habituation (i.e., diminishing response with same stimulus magnitude) after ∼4 immersions, with variation between studies. We quantified the magnitude and coefficient of variation (CoV) in the CSR in a systematic review and meta-analysis with search terms entered to Medline, SportDiscus, PsychINFO, Pubmed, and Cochrane Central Register. Random effects meta-analyses, including effect sizes (Cohen's d) from 17 eligible groups (k), were conducted for heart rate (HR, n = 145, k = 17), respiratory frequency (f, n = 73, k = 12), minute ventilation (V, n = 106, k = 10) and tidal volume (V, n = 46, k=6). All CSR variables habituated (p < 0.001) with large or moderate pooled effect sizes: ΔHR -14 (10) bt. min (d: -1.19); Δf -8 (7) br. min (d: -0.78); ΔV, -21.3 (9.8) L. min (d: -1.64); ΔV -0.4 (0.3) L . Variation was greatest in V (control vs comparator immersion: 32.5&24.7%) compared to V (11.8&12.1%). Repeated CWI induces CSR habituation potentially reducing drowning risk. We consider the neurophysiological and behavioural consequences.
Topics: Humans; Cold-Shock Response; Habituation, Psychophysiologic; Drowning; Water; Respiratory Rate; Cold Temperature; Immersion
PubMed: 38211547
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103775 -
Health Science Reports Jul 2023World Health Organization (WHO) has classified drowning as a major public health problem. The most vulnerable victims of drowning are children from low and middle-income...
BACKGROUND
World Health Organization (WHO) has classified drowning as a major public health problem. The most vulnerable victims of drowning are children from low and middle-income countries. Previously, it was the primary cause of death among children aged between 1 and 17 years in Bangladesh.
AIMS
This study explored the surrounding circumstances and associated factors of child drownings in Bangladesh.
METHODS
A qualitative phenomenological approach has been used to conduct the study. Bangladesh was chosen as the study area, and data were gathered using a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire. Using convenience and snowball sampling methods, we have collected data from Dhaka and seven additional districts in Bangladesh. We reached a total of 44 individuals, where 22 agreed to participate in an interview (face-to-face and online interviews). The remaining 22 participants were selected in two focus group discussions via the web platform "ZOOM cloud meeting."
RESULTS
Our investigation revealed several factors associated with child drowning, including a lack of adequate parental supervision and monitoring, geographic locations and environment, seasonal factors, low living standards, peer pressure and risky behaviors, social stigma and prejudices, and natural disasters and calamities. According to our findings, a lower socioeconomic position is linked to a higher risk of nonfatal drowning. Moreover, this research also indicates a substantial nexus between child drowning fatalities and the socioeconomic conditions of the families of the victims.
CONCLUSION
The study adds to the existing body of knowledge by underlining the associated factors of child drowning fatalities in Bangladesh, which will aid in developing preventive policies. An essential aspect of any drowning prevention program for Bangladesh should be enhanced for community awareness of safe water rescue and resuscitation practices.
PubMed: 37396561
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1380 -
The American Journal of Emergency... Nov 2023Accurate, reliable, and sufficient data is required to reduce the burden of drowning by targeting preventive measures and improving treatment. Today's drowning...
BACKGROUND
Accurate, reliable, and sufficient data is required to reduce the burden of drowning by targeting preventive measures and improving treatment. Today's drowning statistics are informed by various methods sometimes based on data sources with questionable reliability. These methods are likely responsible for a systematic and significant underreporting of drowning. This study's aim was to assess the 30-day survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) identified in the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry (DCAR) after applying the Danish Drowning Formula.
METHODS
This nationwide, cohort, registry-based study with 30-day follow-up used the Danish Drowning Formula to identify drowning-related OHCA with a resuscitation attempt from the DCAR from January 1st, 2016, through December 31st, 2021. The Danish Drowning Formula is a text-search algorithm constructed for this study based on trigger-words identified from the prehospital medical records of validated drowning cases. The primary outcome was 30-day survival from OHCA. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.
RESULTS
Drowning-related OHCA occurred in 374 (1%) patients registered in the DCAR compared to 29,882 patients with OHCA from other causes. Drowning-related OHCA more frequently occurred at a public location (87% vs 25%, p < 0.001) and were more frequently witnessed by bystanders (80% vs 55%, p < 0.001). Both 30-day and 1-year survival for patients with drowning-related OHCA were significantly higher compared to OHCA from other causes (33% vs 14% and 32% vs 13%, respectively, p < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio for 30-day survival for drowning-related OHCA and other causes of OHCA was 2.3 [1.7-3.2], p < 0.001. Increased 30-day survival was observed for drowning-related OHCA occurring at swimming pools compared to public location OHCA from other causes with an OR of 11.6 [6.0-22.6], p < 0.001.
CONCLUSIONS
This study found higher 30-day survival among drowning-related OHCA compared to OHCA from other causes. This study proposed that a text-search algorithm (Danish Drowning Formula) could explore unstructured text fields to identify drowning persons. This method may present a low-resource solution to inform the drowning statistics in the future.
REGISTRATION
This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov before analyses (NCT05323097).
PubMed: 37619443
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.08.024