11 January 2006

Annual Drowning Toll Plunges

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) has officially announced the provisional drowning toll for 2006, a record low toll of 87 drowning deaths in New Zealand. It is the lowest annual toll since records began in 1980. The 2006 toll represents 75% of the 2005 annual drowning toll of 116, the previous low recorded

Notably, it is the first time ever that there have been less than 100 drowning fatalities in a calendar year in New Zealand.

The average annual drowning toll for the last five years (2001 - 2005) is 125. Comparatively the average drowning toll in the 1980's was 180 and in the 1990's, 140.

WSNZ Operations Manager, Matt Claridge says "to achieve a drowning toll of less than 100 is a momentous achievement, but to blitz all previous annual outcomes so comprehensively only continues to justify the time and resources the water safety sector manages to afford to various programmes and initiatives."

On a per capita basis the toll in 2006 equates to 2.1 drowning deaths per 100,000 people. This compares favourably with the five year average (2001-2005) of 3.2 drowning deaths per 100,000 people. Australia's toll of 1.29 per 100,000 people (1 July 2005 - 30 June 2006) still sets the benchmark for future drowning toll targets.

Claridge continues; "Australia have always been well ahead of New Zealand in terms of their lower drowning toll, but lately the realisation in this country that significant levels of success are being achieved via immensely popular education programmes and initiatives in the community allows for consolidation of existing practice and enhancement of long term drowning prevention strategies."

Specific Category Analysis:

Activity
Of significant note in 2006 is the fact that there were 37 (43%) Recreational related drowning fatalities (victim was in, on or under the water for recreational purposes).
The number of drowning deaths whilst Swimming totalled 13 (15%), which is an increase from 12 (10%) in 2005.
Recreational drowning categories where significant reductions were noted include the following:
* Land Based Fishing - 6 (7%) down from 13 in each of 2004 and 2005
* Non Powered Craft - 3 (3%) down from 8 in each of 2004 and 2005

There were 50 (57%) Non-Recreational (victim has no intent on being in the water) drowning deaths in 2006 with Road Vehicle related deaths contributing 6 (7%) fatalities compared with
18 (16%) in 2005. The number of Accidental Immersions totalled 24 (28%) versus 25 in each of 2004 (20%) and 2005 (22%).

Site
30 (35%) drownings occurred in Inland Moving Waterways such as Rivers, Streams and Creeks. Historically, one third of all drowning deaths occur in this environment.
The number of drownings at Surf Beaches rose from 11 in 2004 (9%) and 11 in 2005 (9%) to 14 (16%) in 2006. Of note is the reduction in drownings that occurred around the Rocky Foreshore, notable as popular fishing and kaimoana gathering sites, from nine (8%) in 2005 to five (6%) in 2006.

The largest site related decline was for the Inshore Still category, comprising; Calm Water Beaches; Harbour; Estuary and Marinas. There were eight (9%) drowning deaths compared with 23 (20%) in 2005.

Demographic
Once again three quarters of all drowning victims were male.
The total number of Maori drownings has increased slightly as a percentage of population from 20% in 2005 to 22% in 2006.

The most at-risk age group for drowning was 45 - 54 years with 15 (17%) deaths. Historically the most at-risk age group has been between 15 - 44 years and male. There were four drowning deaths in the 0 - 4 years age group, a level previously matched in 2004, but considerably well below the annual average (2001 - 2005) of nine drownings per annum. Invariably a preschool drowning is the result of a lack of supervision and typically occurs in the bath, home swimming pool or the environment accessed from the dwelling.

Regional
Regional drowning highlights show significant reductions in the following regions from 2005; Auckland, Waikato, Marlborough and Otago. Increases are noted for Northland, Taupo, Taranaki, Manawatu, and the West Coast. There were zero drowning deaths in the Wanganui region for the first time since drowning records began in 1980.

Claridge continues: "the success achieved not only over the last 12 months but over the last two decades in reducing drowning incidents in New Zealand is best attributed to the water safety sector, specifically in the fields of education and rescue. The long term and internationally recognised approach to preventing drowning and adopted in New Zealand is to ensure that all children develop swim and survival skills. The ability to impact on both recreational and non-recreational drowning deaths relies on this premise as a foundation life skill prior to the introduction of specific programmes, be it at school or in the community."

"WSNZ will further the profiling of learning to swim and survive as a fundamental life skill via the growth of the Swim For Life initiative, as well as actively working to minimise the barriers to learning to swim in New Zealand. The water safety needs of the community start with strong swim and survival learning opportunities and finish with New Zealanders possessing the basic skills to play and enjoy our waterways safely."

ENDS

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