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The American Journal of Forensic... Mar 2024A study was undertaken at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, South Australia, of all cases of homicide (January 2003-December 2022) where the victims' bodies had been... (Review)
Review
A study was undertaken at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, South Australia, of all cases of homicide (January 2003-December 2022) where the victims' bodies had been concealed. Three hundred twenty-six homicides were identified, which included 27 cases where bodies had been deliberately hidden (8%) (age range, 2-82 years; ave, 34.9 years; M:F = 1.5:1). Deaths were due to blunt force trauma (n = 11), sharp force trauma (n = 4), asphyxia (n = 4), gunshot wound (n = 2), and a combination of drowning and asphyxia (n = 1). In 5 cases, the cause of death was not determinable. The methods of concealment (which were sometimes overlapping) included the following: dumping at a hidden/isolated location (n = 8), burial (n = 7), dismembering (n = 3), incinerating (n = 3), hiding in a wheeled garbage bin (n = 2), disposing in garbage resulting in the remains being located at waste disposal facilities (n = 2), hiding in a shed (n = 1), under a concrete floor (n = 1), in a suitcase (n = 1), in a river (n = 1), in a mine shaft (n = 1), and in a septic tank (n = 1). Although it has been asserted that concealed homicides are rarely encountered in forensic practice, the current study has demonstrated that the bodies in at least 8% of victims of homicide in South Australia have undergone some form of concealment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Age Distribution; Asphyxia; Drowning; Homicide; Retrospective Studies; Wounds, Gunshot; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Male; Female
PubMed: 38305298
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000868 -
Hawai'i Journal of Health & Social... Mar 2022Causes of the extraordinarily high and increasing incidence of snorkeler drownings in Hawai'i have remained unexplained for years. Defining the mechanisms and factors...
Causes of the extraordinarily high and increasing incidence of snorkeler drownings in Hawai'i have remained unexplained for years. Defining the mechanisms and factors predisposing to drowning while snorkeling is needed to provide recommendations to substantially mitigate the incidence of this form of preventable death. The mechanisms of drowning are described and insight into the predisposing factors are explored in this study. Methods included measuring snorkel airway resistance characteristics, case reports from the State of Hawai'i Medical Examiner's office, and collating information by survey, principally from rescued survivors. This study identified 2 modes of drowning while snorkeling that need further investigation: accidental or inadvertent aspiration, and hypoxia resulting from acute negative pressure pulmonary edema. The incidence of drowning from mechanisms of hypoxia due to rapid onset pulmonary edema is an important focus of the study and a number of potentially significant predisposing factors are presented that need further investigation but provide bases that may become part of updated policies and practices for snorkelers to substantially lower the risk of death. This report is meant for both medical and public health information purposes.
Topics: Drowning; Hawaii; Humans; Hypoxia; Incidence; Pulmonary Edema
PubMed: 35261987
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Injury & Violence Research May 2023Past studies have shown a lack of consensus on the definition and terminology of drowning among experts in the field and relevant organizations. There is a need for a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Past studies have shown a lack of consensus on the definition and terminology of drowning among experts in the field and relevant organizations. There is a need for a new look at the definition of drowning to improve the understanding of drowning events.
METHODS
A literature search of seven electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINHAL, MEDLINE, Sport Discus, and Social Sciences from 1960 to 2020 was conducted using the MESH search terms "drowning", "near-drowning", "submersion", and "immersion". Cochrane databases were also searched for systematic reviews The items were searched in all fields of publication, including title, abstract, and keyword.
RESULTS
The search identified approximately 2500 articles, 230 of which were reviewed. The inclusion criteria were applied to the full text of 230 articles, and 25 articles addressing the different definitions of drowning were assessed. They were reviewed critically by authors using a standard review form. The search identified that there were at least 20 different outcome measures for drowning incidents reported. Definitions of drowning in the literature were found for the following terms: dry versus wet drowning, secondary drowning, drowned and near-drowned, drowning without aspiration and drowning with aspiration, near drowning without aspiration or with aspiration, active drowning, passive drowning, silent drowning, witnessed and unwitnessed, immersion, submersion, death certificate records drowning, unintentional submersion, road traffic injury leading to passenger vehicle drowning, drowning, near drowning, salt or freshwater drowning, and cold water drowning.
CONCLUSIONS
In the literature, a lack of consensus was observed but the following terms should not be abandoned; "Non-fatal drowning" which is used to describe death following rescue and life with at least 24 hours of in-hospital survival and the development of one or more complications and "Fatal drowning" which implies death occurring at the scene or 24 h of a submersion incident.
Topics: Humans; Drowning; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Water; Near Drowning; Fresh Water
PubMed: 37302005
DOI: 10.5249/jivr.v15i2.1816 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood.... Apr 2021Drowning is a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. The underlying mechanisms vary with child development and most are modifiable to public...
Drowning is a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. The underlying mechanisms vary with child development and most are modifiable to public health promotion strategies. This article serves to highlight some of the specific considerations for the clinical management of drowning in children, both prehospital and by the in-hospital paediatric resuscitation team. This includes changes to standard advanced paediatric life support in the presence of hypothermia.
Topics: Child; Drowning; Humans; Near Drowning; Referral and Consultation; Resuscitation
PubMed: 32709594
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-318823 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2022Flash rips are episodic bursts of water jetting offshore, which can lead to drowning incidents by sweeping swimmers offshore without warning, thus posing a hidden and...
Flash rips are episodic bursts of water jetting offshore, which can lead to drowning incidents by sweeping swimmers offshore without warning, thus posing a hidden and unrecognized danger to beachgoers. This study reveals hazards of flash rips by investigating a series of drowning incidents along coasts of Lake Michigan during a series of storm events on July 18-21, 2019. Occurrences and causes of flash rips were depicted through webcam image observations, storm features of atmospheric disturbances, hydrodynamic circumstances of wind waves and meteorologically induced water level fluctuations, and model-reconstructed nearshore circulations. Results shows that flash rips were generated during or after storms through nearshore processes of storm-induced wind waves and meteorologically induced water level fluctuations. With small wind waves, low water level fluctuations, and a timing delay of rip occurrences relative to the causative convective storms, flash rips pose a hidden hazard to unaware swimmers. Historical observations for incidents in Lake Michigan between 2002 and 2019 further show that dry conditions or fair weathers and a calm water signature at the beach can likely generate unexpected hidden flash rips, resulting in the highest drowning risks. There is an urgent need for communication, education, and prediction/forecast of hidden flash rips to the Laurentian Great Lakes and worldwide coastal communities.
Topics: Drowning; Humans; Lakes; Michigan; Water; Wind
PubMed: 35257766
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154314 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2021Drowning is a significant public health issue, with females accounting for one third of global drowning deaths. The rate of female drowning has not decreased within... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Drowning is a significant public health issue, with females accounting for one third of global drowning deaths. The rate of female drowning has not decreased within high-income countries and presentations to hospital have increased. This scoping review aimed to explore adult female unintentional drowning, including risk factors, clinical treatment and outcomes of females hospitalised for drowning.
METHODS
A systematic search of the literature following the PRISMA-ScR framework was undertaken. The databases OVID MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, OVID Emcare, Web of Science, Informit and Scopus were accessed. Study locations of focus were Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Studies from January 2003 to April 2019 were included. The quality of evidence of included studies was assessed using GRADE guidelines.
RESULTS
The final search results included 14 studies from Australia (n = 4), Canada (n = 1), New Zealand (n = 1), United States (n = 6), United Kingdom (n = 1), and one study reporting data from both Australia and United States. Nine studies reported risk factors for female drowning including age, with the proportion of female drowning incidence increasing with age. Although females are now engaging in risk-taking behaviours associated with drowning that are similar to males, such as consuming alcohol and swimming in unsafe locations, their exposure to risky situations and ways they assess risk, differ. Females are more likely to drown from accidental entry into water, such as in a vehicle during a flood or fall into water. This review found no evidence on the clinical treatment provided to females in hospital after a drowning incident, and only a small number of studies reported the clinical outcomes of females, with inconsistent results (some studies reported better and some no difference in clinical outcomes among females).
CONCLUSION
Adult females are a group vulnerable to drowning, that have lacked attention. There was no single study found which focused solely on female drowning. There is a need for further research to explore female risk factors, the clinical treatment and outcomes of females hospitalised for drowning. This will not only save the lives of females, but also contribute to an overall reduction in drowning.
Topics: Adult; Australia; Canada; Developed Countries; Drowning; Female; Humans; Male; New Zealand; United Kingdom
PubMed: 34090385
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10920-8 -
CJEM Apr 2022
Topics: Drowning; Humans; Resuscitation; Societies, Medical
PubMed: 35129831
DOI: 10.1007/s43678-022-00271-7 -
The Lancet. Global Health Jul 2022Drowning has been a neglected health issue, largely absent from the global health and development discourse, until the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution... (Review)
Review
Drowning has been a neglected health issue, largely absent from the global health and development discourse, until the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on global drowning prevention in 2021. This policy analysis examines the role of issue characteristics, actor power, ideas, and political contexts in the emergence of drowning prevention, and it also identifies opportunities for future actions. We identified three factors crucial to enhancing prioritisation: (1) methodological advancements in population-representative data and evidence for effective interventions; (2) reframing drowning prevention in health and sustainable development terms with an elevated focus on high burdens in low-income and middle-income contexts; and (3) political advocacy by a small coalition. Ensuring that the UN resolution on global drowning prevention is a catalyst for action requires positioning of drowning prevention within global health and sustainable development agendas; strengthening of capacity for multisectoral action; expansion of research measuring burden and identifying solutions in diverse contexts; and incorporation of inclusive global governance, commitments, and mechanisms that hold stakeholders to account.
Topics: Drowning; Global Health; Health Policy; Humans; Policy Making; Sustainable Development
PubMed: 35461520
DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00074-2 -
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 -
JAMA Pediatrics Aug 2022
Topics: Drowning; Humans; Parents
PubMed: 35759278
DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.1434