National Drowning Report 2015 shows drownings in pools drop by 14 per cent

The National Drowning Report 2015 shows drownings in pools are below the 10 year average, but still high at 32.

In the previous 12 months, 37 people drowned in swimming pools, showing a decrease this year of 14 per cent in swimming pool related drownings, and representing 12 per cent of all drownings during the year.

However, swimming pools were the leading category in drownings for the 0-4 age group accounting for 54 per cent - being 14 drownings, down two from the 16 drownings in this age group last year.

Overall, there were 271 drowning deaths in Australian waterways between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015. The number of people drowning in Australia has increased this year, but remains the second lowest on average since 2002/03. This figure of 271 deaths was recorded in both 2011/12 and 2014/15.

This year’s figure of 271 drowning deaths is an increase of 5 drowning deaths (or 1.9%) on the 266 drowning deaths recorded in 2013/14. This is however, a reduction of 17 deaths (or 5.9%) on the 10 year average of 288 drowning deaths.

The crude drowning rate in 2014/15 is 1.15 per 100,000 people. This compares favourably to the 10 year average drowning rate of 1.32 drowning deaths per 100,000 people.

Of the 271 drowning deaths that occurred in Australian waterways in 2014/15, 216 (80%) were male.

There will be more information on the latest report in the upcoming printed edition of SPLASH!