In the Drink: A Review of Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Water-Related Activities in the Top End region, Northern Territory, Australia
| Autor: | P. J. Treacy, David J. Read, Bevan Jenkins, Kathleen M. McDermott, Linda Ward |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Population 0211 other engineering and technologies 02 engineering and technology Emergency Nursing Crocodile Indigenous 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine biology.animal Tropical climate medicine education Location 021110 strategic defence & security studies education.field_of_study biology business.industry Public health 030208 emergency & critical care medicine Falling (accident) Emergency Medicine Injury Severity Score medicine.symptom business Demography |
| Zdroj: | Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. :1 |
| ISSN: | 1945-1938 1049-023X |
| DOI: | 10.1017/s1049023x17006628 |
| Popis: | Study/Objective A 10-year descriptive analysis of morbidity and mortality associated with water-related activities in the Top End, Northern Territory (NT), Australia. Background An outdoor, water-orientated lifestyle characterises the Top End due to its tropical climate, lengthy coastline, many inland-waterways, and common domestic-pool ownership. However, the water holds many dangers: from drowning to the prospect of crocodile attacks. Methods Data were retrospectively collected from two sources: the Trauma Registry (TR), Royal Darwin Hospital, NT and the National Coronial Information System. Inclusion criteria: all mortality or injury with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 from water-related activity in the Top End. Exclusion criteria: envenomation. Data included: demographics, geographical location, time/mechanism of injury, injury narrative/outcome, alcohol consumption, ISS, and Indigenous race. Results Ninety-five deaths occurred from 1/1/2005–12/31/2014; 87 prehospital (92%). The leading three mechanisms of injury for the 138 TR admissions were drowning (40%), falling/diving (35%), and watercraft events (14%). Median age 27 (0-90); 78% males. There were 74 children (16. The Top End’s crude rate of drowning averaged over 10 years was 4.36/100,000/annum, compared to 1.31/100,000/annum in Australia. Conclusion Alcohol plays a major role in the Top End’s water-related harm, associated with all mechanisms and over one-half of adult deaths. Also striking is increasing crocodile fatalities, possibly caused by population recovery from endangered to plentiful, since hunting ceased in 1971. Local authorities/advocates push water-safety and crocodile-awareness programs. However, the lure of tropical waters combined with alcohol remains a risk to life and limb. Further public health campaigns focusing on these issues are called for. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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