A complete new Royal Life Saving Australia study has discovered a major discount in drowning charges, notably amongst younger kids, however highlights persevering with challenges amongst migrant and regional populations and in places together with rivers and seashores.
The analysis makes use of knowledge from practically 5,700 unintentional drowning deaths between 2002 and 2022 and presents clear steerage to tell an replace to the Australian Water Safety Strategy, which is being launched for session on the National Water Safety Summit in Sydney, July 24–25, 2025.
The study is published within the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Drowning deaths decreased by 24.1% over 20 years, with the best fall in drowning charges occurring in kids aged 0–4 years (down 59.2%). Drowning charges fell in all age teams, besides these aged 15–17 years. Drowning charges in individuals aged 65-years and older now signify 20.1% of drowning deaths over the review interval (1.77 per 100,000 inhabitants), and have proven little change over 20 years.
Lead writer of the review, Lauren Miller, of Royal Life Saving Society–Australia and James Cook University, mentioned, “Australia ought to be happy with the dramatic discount in baby drowning, which demonstrates the facility of coverage, schooling, and group motion. But our progress has stalled in key areas—notably amongst older Australians and males at rivers or seashores.”
Rivers and creeks have been the main places for drowning, representing 26.3% of instances and falling by 21.6%, adopted by seashores (17.9%), which confirmed no change in drowning charges over the 20-year interval. Those residing in distant or deprived communities face the best charges of drowning.
Males are practically 4 occasions as seemingly as females to drown (3.7 occasions). Alcohol consumption stays a significant factor, current in 23.9% of drowning deaths, pre-existing medical circumstances have been current in 36.0%, the bulk recorded amongst older individuals.
Miller added, “Our analysis exhibits drowning is just not merely a childhood subject or restricted to swimming pools. It impacts each Australian, in each a part of the nation. Investment in localized options, addressing alcohol and drug use, tackling drawback, and higher knowledge assortment are important if we’re to fulfill the Australian Water Safety Strategy aim of halving drowning deaths by 2030.”
Authors cautioned that the discount reported on this study is considerably tempered by interim knowledge reported within the 2024 National Drowning Report, which reported that drowning has elevated in post-pandemic years.
More data:
Lauren Miller et al, Analysis of unintentional deadly drowning in Australia 2002-2022: Progress, challenges and knowledge to tell prevention, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100258
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Drownings in Australia have fallen by nearly 25% over 20 years ( 21)
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