Out of sight but not out of mind: rural drowning in Queensland

PloS one, 2015

To redress the lack of Queensland population incidence mortality and morbidity data associated with drowning in those aged 0-19yrs, and to understand survival and patient care. Retrospective population-based study used data linkage to capture both fatal and non-fatal drowning cases (N = 1299) among children aged 0-19years in Queensland, from 2002-2008 inclusive. Patient data were accessed from pre-hospital, emergency department, hospital admission and death data, and linked manually to collate data across the continuum of care. Incidence rates were calculated separately by age group and gender for events resulting in death, hospital admission, and non-admission. Trends over time were analysed. Drowning death to survival ratio was 1:10, and two out of three of those who survived were admitted to hospital. Incidence rates for fatal and non-fatal drowning increased over time, primarily due to an increase in non-fatal drowning. There were non-significant reductions in fatal and admissio...

BMJ Open

ObjectivesThe epidemiology of fatal drowning is increasingly understood. By contrast, there is relatively little population-level research on non-fatal drowning. This study compares data on fatal and non-fatal drowning in Australia, identifying differences in outcomes to guide identification of the best practice in minimising the lethality of exposure to drowning.DesignA subset of data on fatal unintentional drowning from the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database was compared on a like-for-like basis to data on hospital separations sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Hospital Morbidity Database for the 13-year period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2015. A restrictive definition was applied to the fatal drowning data to estimate the effect of the more narrow inclusion criteria for the non-fatal data (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes W65-74 and first reported cause only). Incidence and ratios of fatal to non-fatal drowning wi...

International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 2017

Background: Drowning is a leading and preventable cause of death that has suffered an attention deficit. Improving drowning data in countries would assist the understanding of the full extent and circumstances of drowning, to target interventions and evaluate their effectiveness. The World Health Organization identifies data collection as a key strategy underpinning effective interventions. This study compares unintentional fatal drowning data collection, management and comparison using the databases of Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Methods: Cases of fatal unintentional drowning between 1-January-2005 and 31-December-2014 were extracted. Cases were combined into a single dataset and univariate and chi square analysis (p < 0.01) were undertaken. Location and activity variables were mapped and combined. Variables consistently collected across the three countries were compared to the ILCOR Drowning Data Guideline. The authors also recommend variables for a minimum core dataset. Results: Of 55 total variables, 19 were consistent and 13 could be compared across the three databases. When mapped against the ILCOR Drowning Data Guideline, six variables were consistently collected by all countries, with five compared within this study. The authors recommend a minimum core dataset of 11 variables including age, sex, location, activity, date of incident, and alcohol and drug involvement). There were 8176 drowning deaths (Australia 34.1%, Canada 55.9%, New Zealand 9.9%). All countries achieved reductions in crude drowning rates (Australia − 10.2%, Canada − 20.4%, New Zealand − 24.7%). Location and activity prior to drowning differed significantly across the three countries. Beaches (X 2 = 1151.0;p < 0.001) and ocean/ harbour locations (X 2 = 300.5;p < 0.001) were common in Australia and New Zealand, while lakes/ponds (X 2 = 826.5; p < 0.001) and bathtubs (X 2 = 27.7;p < 0.001) were common drowning locations in Canada. Boating prior to drowning was common in Canada (X 2 = 66.3;p < 0.001).

BMJ Open, 2015

This retrospective population-based study examined drowning location by the site of immersion for both fatal and non-fatal drowning events in Queensland. Drowning location is not routinely collected, and this study used data linkage to identify drowning sites. The resulting enhanced quality data quantify drowning incidence for specific locations by geographic region, age group and by severity for the first time. Design: Linked data were accessed from the continuum of care (prehospital, emergency, hospital admission and death data) on fatal and non-fatal drowning episodes in children aged 0-19 years in Queensland for the years 2002-2008 inclusive. Results: Drowning locations ranked in order of overall incidence were pools, inland water, coastal water, baths and other man-made water hazards. Swimming pools produced the highest incidence rates (7.31/100 000) for overall drowning events and were more often privately owned pools and in affluent neighbourhoods. Toddlers 0-4 years were most at risk around pools (23.94/100 000), and static water bodies such as dams and buckets-the fatality ratios were highest at these 2 locations for this age group. Children 5-14 years incurred the lowest incidence rates regardless of drowning location. Adolescents 15-19 years were more frequently involved in a drowning incident on the coast shoreline, followed by inland dynamic water bodies. Conclusions: Linked data have resulted in the most comprehensive data collection on drowning location and severity to date for children in the state of Queensland. Most mortality and morbidity could have been prevented by improving water safety through engaged supervision around pools and bath time, and a heightened awareness of buckets and man-made water hazards around the farm home for young children. These data provide a different approach to inform prevention strategies.

The Medical journal of Australia, 2010

To explore 5 years of drowning deaths in Australia compared with a previous Australian study a decade earlier, and to assess the feasibility of achieving a 50% reduction in unintentional drowning deaths by 2020. An audit of all unintentional drowning deaths in Australia using data from the National Coroners Information System for 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2007. Number and rate of drowning deaths, by age, sex, location, activity, place of birth, visitor status, and involvement of alcohol or drugs. There were 1452 drowning deaths during the study period (76.4% male). The age-adjusted rate per 100 000 people ranged from 1.61 in 2002-03 to 1.23 in 2006-07. Children aged 0-4 years had the highest rate (2.63 per 100 000 people), and 29% of deaths were of people aged 55 years or older. Over half of all deaths occurred in rivers (20.3%), at beaches (18.3%), or in swimming pools (13.3%). Alcohol was involved in 21.6% of all drowning deaths, although this varied by age. This audit suggests that ...

2010

Journal of Energy Research and Reviews

Design, sizing and optimization of a solar-wind hybrid power system was carried out to determine its economic feasibility using Hybrid optimized model for electric renewable (HOMER) software aimed at selecting the most feasible configuration based on the net present cost to meet the load demand of 425 W for the appliances in a departmental office at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. The simulation results were used to develop a working prototype by sizing the four major components: the solar panels (350 W), a wind turbine (100 W), 2 battery systems of 12 V/200Ah and a charge controller (35.4 A) to regulate battery charging. The efficiencies of the wind turbine, PV solar panels and the inverter system were 48, 29.2 and 50 % respectively. The contribution of PV was 98 % and that of the wind turbine was 2 % due to low average wind speed (1.96 m/s at 15 m) from February to April. The results showed that solar energy contributed more to the charging of the inverter than the wind ...

Hay que relacionar la fe pública con la idea de la verdad, pero no en el sentido de un derecho a la verdad, sino de veracidad jurídica (que no es la verdad filosófica, ni tampoco lo contrario a mentira, sino solo dotado de formas capaces de darle validez jurídica), que implica necesariamente su objetivización, esto es, su reconocimiento por todo de modo objetivo. De ahí su vinculación desde antiguo con el documento, y por eso también que tal veracidad jurídica aparezca indisolublemente ligada al concepto de autenticidad del objeto, justamente para que pueda dar fe pública. Con ello también se logra diferenciar la fe pública de la administración de justicia, del problema de los medios de prueba. Es cierto que ambos conceptos aparecen muy ligados, ya que justamente el objeto que objetiviza puede ser medio de prueba, pero no necesariamente su sentido y objetivo es el proceso. Su sentido es mucho más amplio, es servir a la mantención de las interrelaciones entre los sujetos, y tiene un carácter funcional. Mientras los grupos sociales eran pequeños, la transmisión oral y los testigos eran suficientes para la mantención de tales relaciones. Pero a medida que crecen los grupos sociales, sus actividades tenían efectos más allá de sus vidas, por lo que el testimonio 11 David Rosales Artica. “El delito de falsificación de documentos. Bien jurídico y objeto material de la acción”. Actualidad Jurídica, tomo 160 (marzo 2007). 12 Ibid. LEX N° 16 - AÑO XIII - 2015 - II / ISSN 2313 - 1861 201 ANÁLISIS DE LA ESTRUCTURA LÓGICA DEL DELITO DE FALSIFICACIÓN DE DOCUMENTOS resultaba un instrumento inefectivo para la vida social (sin perjuicio de su importancia en el proceso). De ahí el surgimiento del documento y otros objetos que den perpetuidad a la interrelación entre los sujetos y que además no sean susceptibles de ser transformados con el tiempo (como sucede con la transmisión oral o con los testimonios), sino que por el contrario den garantía a la fijeza. Por eso surge la necesidad de su protección, con el objeto de que no pierda las características esenciales para las interrelaciones sociales, que justamente se pueden ver eliminadas a través de los actos de falsificación.13 b. La fe pública. En el Derecho Romano no se conocía la falsedad documental; estos delitos aparecen con la Lex Cornelia testamentaria nummaria, llamada después Lex Cornelia de Falsis, cuando se amplió su contenido con cierto número de senadoconsultos y constituciones relativas todos ellos a delitos de falsedad. La Lex Cornelia testamentaria nummaria apareció para reprimir los frecuentes delitos en materia de falsedad de testamento y moneda. El bien jurídico protegido es “fe pública”, expresión que, como observa Carrara, no debe interpretarse como fidelidad en el mantenimiento de una obligación contraída, sino en el sentido de confianza. Algunos autores consideran como fe pública solamente la impuesta por la ley, pero tal opinión no es aceptable, pues la fe pública reconoce a determinados documentos destinados a probar hechos originarios de consecuencias jurídicas. Documento es una manifestación de voluntad, en forma escrita, capaz de probar hechos de transcendencia jurídica. Pero no es preciso que esté relacionado o confeccionado con la finalidad de servir de prueba; basta que sea apto para ello.14 Refiere Rosales Ártica que el fundamento de la fe pública como bien jurídico en la falsedad documental no es otro que el de la confianza que, innatamente, el ciudadano deposita en determinadas formas o signos. A partir de aquí, se entiende que lo que se protege es la falsedad documental. Esto se deriva de la confianza de los ciudadanos —por medio de la costumbre— en las características de ciertos objetos que les permiten ser adecuadas para satisfacer las necesidades que exigen las relaciones sociales o la instrumentación de estos en el ámbito jurídico. A pesar de la aceptación que esta idea ha tenido no solo en las legislaciones penales de diversos países, sino también en la doctrina penal, se puede decir que la fe pública hoy es solamente un marco general o punto de referencia común a todos los delitos de falsedad, pero demasiado vago e inconcreto para, por sí mismo, solventar las cuestiones planteada. Su enorme abstracción y generalidad la tornan como una idea no aceptable. Un análisis a profundidad de ellos nos permitirá constatar que la fe pública en el valor probatorio de los documentos adquiere formas diversas según la fuerza probatorio del documento.15