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Drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury death on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Steep submarine slopes, large waves, and variable coastlines combine to create hazardous conditions year round. Most victims (3/4) have been visitors (avg. age 46.2 years; 85% male), dying at more than 40 coastal locali- ties. From 1970 to 2009, 300 people died at the island's coastline, the death rate increasing from 5.5/yr (1970-79) to 10.1/yr (2000-09). Paradoxically, the number of lifeguards increased from a handful at two 1970s stations to 45 at 10 stations by 2009. Kauai County provides lifeguards; the State of Hawaii emphasizes liability protection with an abundance of relatively uninformative warning signs. The tourism industry provides little direct information as to the hazardous nature of the alluring coastline. A paradigm shift in water safety/drowning prevention is proposed emphasizing informative site-specific and hazard-specific signage at both the many unguarded and guarded hazardous localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the paper by Hunsucker and Davison published in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education in 2010. The authors' two-part goal was to describe a protocol they named "in-water intervention" (IWI) that uses abdominal thrusts (ATs) and to report on its effectiveness at assisting drowning victims in waterparks. We identify serious shortcomings in the paper's methodology, interpretation and use of the literature, and ethical principles. We conclude that their primary assertions were unsubstantiated by the evidence they presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes that the teaching of beginner swimming should be organized according to the causes of drowning. We surveyed drowning reports, interviewed drowning survivors, and observed simulated drowning victims to determine common characteristics associated with drowning. We also reviewed 25 swimming instructional programs offered by well-recognized national programs from 18 separate countries and identified 8 common beginning swimming skills. These skills could be closely connected with the causes of drowning. We proposed a definition for being able to swim that should be given common international acceptance so that learning to swim can actually provide skills needed for preventing drowning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article concentrates on several aspects of how lifeguards see and recognize a victim, including vision and signal detection. Lifeguards need to reinforce the skills of how and what to look for by using a simulation device or exercise. The application of geometry and visual physiology to the job of lifeguards helps improve lifeguarding skills.

The article discusses the published decisions of the court of appeals concerning headfirst entry into water as a sport or recreational interest. It aims to provide the aquatic community with the knowledge of headfirst entry litigation and to improve the efforts in making the aquatic environment safe. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates that 150,553 people sustained injuries in swimming pools, while the National Safety Council found drowning as the major cause of death.

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in time that it will take a rescuer to swim different distances to a near-drowning victim with a rescue tube, using preferred YMCA and American Red Cross approach methods. The skills that were timed included YMCA and Red Cross approach skills with a rescue tube using the modified breaststroke and front-crawl stroke. Three different events were timed using the two different approach strokes, for a total of 10 trials. It was assumed that the victim in this study was a passive victim facing away from the rescuer. This positioning was adopted to equalize the approach distance for both the YMCA and Red Cross in order to eliminate the requirement of swimming behind the victim in all Red Cross approaches. Because the victim's back was toward the rescuer, the approach method was directly from the rear. A comparison of mean times was also made between the lifeguard and nonlifeguard groups. In four out of five comparisons between Red Cross and YMCA methods, the YMCA method was faster (p < .05). It was concluded that the rescue tube resulted in increased water resistance when it was positioned across the rescuer's chest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the economic impact of drowning in U.S. inland lakes and rivers. It is estimated that the lifetime cost of fatal and nonfatal drownings per injured person was highest for adolescents and young adults. At an average cost of more than $500,000 per person, nearly $17 million would be saved for every 1% of those people rescued by a lifeguard.