ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7268-2587
Current Organisations
UNSW Sydney
,
UNSW Australia
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-1999
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 02-11-2014
DOI: 10.2112/SI72-016.1
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 02-01-2013
DOI: 10.2112/SI65-133.1
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-11-2011
Publisher: The Oceanography Society
Date: 09-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Publisher: Bowling Green State University Libraries
Date: 11-2011
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 27-09-2023
DOI: 10.2196/47202
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 02-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0246034
Abstract: Coastal drowning is a global public health problem which requires evidence to support safety initiatives. The growing multidisciplinary body of coastal drowning research and associated prevention countermeasures is erse and has not been characterised as a whole. The objective of this scoping review was to identify key concepts, findings, evidence and research gaps in the coastal drowning literature to guide future research and inform prevention activities. We conducted a scoping review to identify peer reviewed studies published before May 2020 reporting either (i) fatal unintentional coastal drowning statistics from non-boating, -disaster or -occupational aetiologies (ii) risk factors for unintentional fatal coastal drowning or (iii) coastal drowning prevention strategies. Systematic searches were conducted in six databases, two authors independently screened studies for inclusion and one author extracted data using a standardised data charting form developed by the study team. Of the 146 included studies, the majority (76.7%) were from high income countries, 87 (59.6%) reported coastal drowning deaths, 61 (41.8%) reported risk factors, and 88 (60.3%) reported prevention strategies. Populations, data sources and coastal water site terminology in the studies varied widely as did reported risk factors, which most frequently related to demographics such as gender and age. Prevention strategies were commonly based on survey data or expert opinion and primarily focused on education, lifeguards and signage. Few studies (n = 10) evaluated coastal drowning prevention strategies. Coastal drowning is an expansive, multidisciplinary field that demands cross-sector collaborative research. Gaps to be addressed in coastal safety research include the lack of research from lower resourced settings, unclear and inconsistent terminology and reporting, and the lack of evaluation for prevention strategies. Advancing coastal drowning science will result in a stronger evidence base from which to design and implement effective countermeasures that ultimately save lives and keep people safe.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2009
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2016
Publisher: Bowling Green State University Libraries
Date: 08-2015
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 15-07-2014
Abstract: Many beaches are characterized by rip currents—strong, narrow flows that can quickly carry bathers offshore, often against their will. However, despite long-standing efforts at community education and awareness strategies, people continue to drown in rip currents at high rates. Here we describe a simple, but powerful visual-based risk communication approach involving imagery associated with releases of colored dye into rip currents that has been used as an outreach tool with success in Australia. This approach has the potential to transcend limitations of traditional education approaches and bring the rip current hazard to life for a largely unaware public.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2011.10.003
Abstract: The objective of this research was to evaluate a c aign to improve beachgoer recognition of calm-looking rip currents, known to contribute to surf drowning. Posters, postcards, and brochures conveying the message "Don't get sucked in by the rip" were distributed in an intervention area. Beachgoers were interviewed in this and a similar control area one year before and immediately after the intervention (respective response rates: 69.9% and 82.3%), Consenting respondents were sent follow-up questionnaires after approximately 6 months and 55% responded. In the intervention area, 28.8% of post-intervention, and 57.2% of follow-up respondents, had seen our c aign. At post-intervention, intervention respondents demonstrated improvement (relative to baseline) in intentions to swim away from a calm-looking rip, ability and confidence in identifying a rip, intention never to swim at unpatrolled beaches, and responses to being caught in a rip, compared to the control respondents. Similar improvements were observed post-intervention for respondents in the intervention area who had seen our c aign (relative to those who had not), and at 6 month follow-up for intervention respondents (relative to control respondents). The relatively brief print-based c aign was effective in warning beachgoers about calm-looking rips.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2021
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 22-02-2019
DOI: 10.5194/NHESS-19-389-2019
Abstract: Abstract. Rip currents are the greatest hazard to swimmers on surf beaches, but due to a lack of consistent incident reporting in many countries, it is often difficult to quantify the number of rip-current-related rescues and drowning deaths occurring along surf beaches. This study examines this problem using rescue data reported to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) by surf beach rescuers from 1997 through 2016. These data were checked, corrected, and culled so that only data from surf beach rescue agencies that reported the primary cause of rescue were included. Results show that rip currents are the primary cause of 81.9 % of rescues on surf beaches, with regional variation from 75.3 % (East Coast) to 84.7 % (West Coast). These values are significantly higher than those previously reported in the scientific literature (e.g., 36.5 %, 53.7 %). Using this value as a proxy when examining overall surf beach drowning fatalities, it is suggested that more than 100 fatal drownings per year occur due to rip currents in the United States. However, it is clear that the United States data would benefit by an increase in the number of lifeguard agencies which report surf-related rescues by primary cause.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2015
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 28-06-2013
DOI: 10.5194/NHESS-13-1687-2013
Abstract: Abstract. Rip currents are strong, narrow offshore flows of water which occur on many of the world's beaches and represent a serious hazard to bathers. In Australia, rip currents account for an average of 21 confirmed human fatalities per year. Based on an analysis of the longest existing data records, rip currents account for more human fatalities in Australia on average each year than bushfires, floods, and cyclones combined. This finding raises important questions regarding the levels of attention placed on the low intensity, but high frequency rip current hazard in relation to high profile and episodic natural hazards.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 13-08-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0256202
Abstract: Drowning is a global public health problem, but accurately estimating drowning risk remains a challenge. Coastal drowning comprises a significant proportion of the drowning burden in Australia and is influenced by a range of behavioural factors (e.g. risk perception, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours) that are poorly understood. These factors, along with those that impact exposure (e.g. coastal visitation and activity participation) all impact on drowning risk. While excellent mortality and morbidity data exists in Australia, a lack of coastal participation data presents challenges to identifying high-risk groups or activities and prioritising prevention efforts. This methods paper describes the development and evolution of an ongoing, annual, nationally representative online survey as an effective tool used to capture valuable data about the Australian population’s relationship with the coast. This paper explores how the survey is structured (12–14 sections spanning multiple topics and themes), the different question types used (including open text, 4-digit responses and categorical questions), the s le size (1400–1600 respondents), s ling strategy (using demographic quota s ling which can then be post-weighted to the population if required) and how topics and themes have changed over time to enhance the quality of data collected (i.e., wording changes to enhance participant comprehension or data usability and changing issue-specific ‘feature’ topics of interest such as c aign evaluation). How the survey is implemented online is described, both practically through to third-party recruitment processes and ethically to maximise anonymity of respondents and ensure data quality. Interim analyses indicate the impact of considering exposure when calculating fatal drowning rates, especially by activity (e.g., crude boating drowning rate 0.12 per 100,000 population vs 0.95 per 100,000 exposed population [relative risk = 8.01 95% confidence interval: 4.55–14.10]). This study highlights lessons learned in the process of conducting a nationally representative coastal participation survey as well as the strengths and limitations of adopting this approach. Data collected will provide more detailed information on the skills, behaviours, knowledge and attitudes of coastal activity participants. Analyses of this unique dataset will inform research that will underpin development and evaluation of coastal drowning prevention initiatives prioritising those most at risk. It is hoped that the methods detailed within this study may be useful for other countries to develop similar approaches to understanding their own population.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 14-02-2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-03-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-05-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2022
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 05-04-2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-11-2016
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 11-03-2023
Abstract: elfie-related injury has become a growing public health concern amid the near ubiquitous use of smartphones and social media apps. Of particular concern are selfie-related deaths at aquatic locations areas often frequented because of their photogenic allure. Unfortunately, such places exhibit hazards inherent with their environment. he study aimed to ascertain current evidence regarding selfie-related injuries and recommended risk treatment measures in the academic literature as well as how selfie-related injuries and deaths were being reported by the media allowing us to identify key challenges facing Land Managers and Public Health Practitioners in mitigating selfie-related injuries and deaths. etween October and December 2022, we performed a narrative review of peer-reviewed literature published since January 2011. Literature was screened to identify causal factors implicated in selfie-related deaths and injuries, as well as risk treatments recommended. Furthermore, we used an environmental scan methodology to search for media reports of selfie-related injuries and deaths at aquatic locations in Australia and the United States of America (USA). In idual cases of selfie-related aquatic injuries and deaths sourced from news reports were analysed to assess epidemiological characteristics and a thematic content analysis was conducted to identify key themes of news reporting on selfie-related deaths and injuries. n total five peer-reviewed studies were included. Four studies identified falls from height as the most common injury mechanism in selfie incidents (33%). Drowning was the second most common cause of death. Recommended risk treatments were limited but included the adoption of “no selfie zones”, physical barriers, signage, and provision of information on dangerous locations to social media users. Twelve cases were identified from media reports reporting (4 injuries and 8 fatalities 7 in Australia and 5 in the USA). Mean age of the reported victims was 22.3 years, with victims more likely to be female tourists. Content analysis revealed three key themes from media reports: ‘Blame’, ‘Warning’, and ‘Prevention and Education’. Few media reports (n=8) provided safety recommendations. he selfie-related incident phenomenon should be viewed as a public health problem that requires a public health risk communication response. To date, little attention has been paid to averting selfie-related incidents through behaviour change methodologies or direct messaging to users, such as through social media apps. Although previous research has recommended “no selfie zones”, barriers, and signage as ways to prevent selfie incidents, our results suggest this may not be enough, and it may be prudent to also engage in direct safety messaging to social media users. Media reporting of selfie incidents should focus on preventive messaging rather than blame or warning.
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 26-08-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2018
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 24-11-2021
Abstract: Abstract. The majority of drowning deaths on Australian beaches occur significant distances away from lifeguard services. This study uses results of 459 surveys of beachgoers at five beaches unpatrolled by lifeguards in New South Wales, Australia to improve understanding of who visits these beaches and why, and to identify risk factors associated with their beach safety knowledge and behaviour. Many unpatrolled beach users were infrequent beachgoers and weak swimmers, with poor rip current hazard identification skills, who did not observe safety signage that was present, and yet intended to enter the water to swim despite being aware that no lifeguards were present. The survey found that the main reasons beachgoers visited unpatrolled beaches were because they were conveniently close to their holiday accommodation, or they represented a quieter location away from crowds. Future beach safety interventions in Australia need to extend beyond the standard ‘swim between the flags’ message in recognition that people will always frequent unpatrolled beaches. Future beach safety interventions for unpatrolled beaches should be tailored towards the varied types of demographic beach users, such as domestic tourist families, males, and day visitors attracted by social media.
Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
Date: 2023
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 06-2018
DOI: 10.1029/2017JF004491
Publisher: The Forum on Education Abroad
Date: 17-11-2016
DOI: 10.36366/FRONTIERS.V28I1.379
Abstract: Students studying abroad or participating in a foreign exchange often visit a beach during their time abroad, but little is known about their understanding of rip currents and other surf hazards, their behavior, their choices, or if they take precautions when visiting a beach. This study describes the results of a survey of Texas A& M University students who completed a study abroad program between May 2013 and May 2015. Results of the survey suggest that a majority of the students surveyed (~74%) visited at least one beach during their time abroad, and over 50% of students visited more than 2 beaches. The visit to the beach was optional for most of the respondents and most went as part of a group. Decisions about the beaches visited tended to be based on convenience and recommendations from other students, tourists, or locals, and were rarely based on safety. Results of this preliminary study point to a need for implementing proactive beach safety education programs for students studying abroad.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2013
Publisher: Geological Society of America
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1130/G21907.1
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-01-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0262175
Abstract: Multicultural communities in Australia are recognised as a priority area for drowning prevention, but no evidence-based study has addressed their knowledge of beach safety. This study used an online survey tool to identify and examine risk factors relating to swimming ability, beach visitation characteristics and behaviour, and beach safety knowledge of the Australian Southern Asian community to assist in the development of future beach safety interventions. Data was obtained through 249 online and in-person surveys of people aged 18 years. Most respondents reported poor swimming ability (80%), often swam in in the absence of lifeguards (77%), did not understand the rip current hazard (58%), but reported that they entered the water (76%) when visiting beaches. Close to one-quarter (28%) had not heard, or didn’t know the purpose, of the red and yellow beach flags, which identify lifeguard supervised areas on Australian beaches. Length of time living in Australia is an important beach safety consideration for this community, with minimal differences in terms of gender and age. Those who have lived 10 years in Australia visit beaches more frequently and are less likely to have participated in swimming lessons, be able to swim, heard of the flags or swim between them, understand rip currents, or have participated in a beach safety program. Very few (3%) respondents received beach safety information from within their own community. The importance of beach safety education and swimming lessons within the Southern Asian community should be prioritised for new and recent migrants to Australia.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-1997
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2008
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2010.04.020
Abstract: Coastal drownings claim on average 82 people per year in Australia. Beach flags are a primary safety strategy used on beaches. They are located away from rip currents, which are the main beach hazard affecting swimmers. Little is known about the behavioural and motivational factors associated with people choosing where to swim in relation to flags and rips. To assess the beliefs and behaviours of beachgoers in relation to beach flags and rip currents. Beachgoers at beaches in NSW were interviewed about their swimming beliefs and behaviours. They were asked to indicate on pictures depicting beach scenarios involving beach flags and fixed rip currents, where they would and would not swim. Logistic regression analysis was undertaken to determine predictors of correct and incorrect swimming behaviour. Beachgoers who are aged from 30 to 49 years (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16, 0.74, p=0.006) are less likely to choose to swim between the flags than other swimmers. In addition, beachgoers who are at the beach with children are significantly more likely to choose to swim between the flags (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.39, 5.40, p=0.004). Beachgoers with basic knowledge about rip currents are significantly more likely to swim away from the rip (OR 11.59, 95% CI 5.89, 22.81, p<0.001). Ocean swimmers aged from 30 to 49 years may choose to swim outside the flags, though they may not necessarily be swimming in the rip. Swimming outside of the flags may be linked with experience. The flags appear to be attractive to parents and carers of children. Whilst the flags indicate a relatively safe area of the beach, it is still vitally important for parents and carers to supervise children in this area. Basic rip current knowledge is an essential component in developing national interventions aimed at reducing coastal drowning. Beachgoers clearly need to know what a rip looks like in order to actively avoid swimming in it.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2006
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-03-2019
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 14-01-2021
DOI: 10.5194/NHESS-21-115-2021
Abstract: Abstract. Rip currents (“rips”) are the leading cause of drowning on surf beaches worldwide. A major contributing factor is that many beachgoers are unable to identify rip currents. Previous research has attempted to quantify beachgoers' rip identification ability using photographs of rip currents without identifying whether this usefully translates into an ability to identify a rip current in situ at the beach. This study is the first to compare beachgoers ability to identify rip currents in photographs and in situ at a beach in New Zealand (Muriwai Beach) where a channel rip current was present. Only 22 % of respondents were able to identify the in situ rip current. The highest rates of success were for males (33 %), New Zealand residents (25 %), and local beach users (29 %). Of all respondents who were successful at identifying the rip current in situ, 62 % were active surfers/bodyboarders, and 28 % were active beach swimmers. Of the respondents who were able to identify a rip current in two photographs, only 34 % were able to translate this into a successful in situ rip identification, which suggests that the ability to identify rip currents by beachgoers is worse than reported by previous studies involving photographs. This study highlights the difficulty of successfully identifying a rip current in reality and that photographs are not necessarily a useful means of teaching in iduals to identify rip currents. It advocates for the use of more immersive and realistic education strategies, such as the use of virtual reality headsets showing moving imagery (videos) of rip currents in order to improve rip identification ability.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-07-2004
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2000
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 26-08-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 06-01-2006
DOI: 10.1029/2005JF000323
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2003
DOI: 10.1002/ESP.489
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 17-03-2022
DOI: 10.5194/NHESS-22-909-2022
Abstract: Abstract. The majority of drowning deaths on Australian beaches occur significant distances away from lifeguard services. This study uses results of 459 surveys of beachgoers at five beaches unpatrolled by lifeguards in New South Wales, Australia, to improve understanding of who visits these beaches and why, and to identify risk factors associated with their beach safety knowledge and behaviour. Many unpatrolled beach users were infrequent beachgoers (64.9 %) with poor rip current hazard identification skills, who did not observe safety signage that was present, and yet intended to enter the water to swim (85.6 %) despite being aware that no lifeguards were present. The survey found that the main reasons why beachgoers visited unpatrolled beaches were because they were conveniently close to their holiday accommodation, or they represented a quieter location away from crowds. Future beach safety interventions in Australia need to extend beyond the standard “swim between the flags” message in recognition that many Australian beaches will remain unpatrolled, yet still frequented, for the foreseeable future. Future beach safety interventions for unpatrolled beaches should be tailored towards the varied demographic groups of beach users.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2004
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 06-2007
DOI: 10.1029/2006JC003740
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2008
Publisher: Bowling Green State University Libraries
Date: 08-2013
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-2003
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-2004
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-08-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-1993
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2014
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-04-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
Abstract: To examine fatal drowning associated with aquatic rescues and prior self-reported experience of undertaking an aquatic rescue in Australia. Previous aquatic rescue experience was sourced through the 2013 Queensland Computer Assisted Telephone Instrument Survey and compared to data on rescue-related fatal unintentional drowning between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2015. Twenty-three per cent (n=294/1291) of survey respondents had previously performed an aquatic rescue. Males (X Drownings are prevented by bystanders this is not without risk to the rescuer. Most people perform only one rescue in their life, often at a younger age, on an altruistic basis, of family members or young children. Community-wide rescue skills, taught at a young age, with consideration for coastal, inland and swimming pool environments, may prevent drowning. Implications for public health: There is a need to train people early in their life on how to undertake a safe rescue and provide resuscitation, including promoting regular updates, in particular if supervising children.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 03-03-2016
DOI: 10.2112/SI75-084.1
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 26-08-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Date: 26-10-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-08-2023
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.785
Abstract: Rip currents are strong, narrow, fast‐flowing currents of water that occur on many beaches and in Australia contributing to 26 drowning deaths and several thousand lifeguard/lifesaver rescues each year. Educating the public about the rip current hazard is a primary focus of beach safety practitioners, but there has been a lack of qualitative research exploring the firsthand experiences of being caught in a rip current to assist in this regard. The aim of this study was to analyse interviews of rip current survivors to understand more about how people react when unintentionally caught in a rip current in order to help guide future public education to mitigate rip current drowning. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 56 in iduals (primarily Australian‐born) about their experience of being caught in a rip current. Interviewees were recruited via an online survey and varied in age and self‐reported swimming ability. Thematic analysis revealed three key temporal elements to the rip current experience: Before the Rip in which lack of awareness and knowledge, complacency, over‐confidence, and attitude were prevalent themes During the Rip which identified panic and temporary inhibition of decision‐making, physical response, prior experience, and relationships with other beach users as themes and After the Rip where post‐rip effects and rip safety messaging and education were key themes. The importance of experiential immersion w as a prevalent thread throughout all phases of the thematic analysis. Our research shows that being caught in a rip current can be an intense and traumatic experience and that lessons learned from survivors have significant implications for improving existing and future rip current education efforts. In this regard, we provide several recommendations based on evidence‐based insights gained from our interviews including the development of immersive rip current experience using virtual reality. Despite the prevalence of rip currents causing drowning deaths and rescues, there has been a lack of qualitative research on firsthand experiences to aid in public education. These interviews emphasise the intense and traumatic nature of being caught in a rip current, underscoring the need for improved rip current education to aid in prevention of this, often harrowing, experience.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-09-2022
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.664
Abstract: School‐based beach safety education programs are common, but best practice guidance and information on their design and development is limited. Researchers, professional ocean lifeguards and students participated in a co‐design process to inform a lifeguard‐delivered, school‐based beach safety education program for a coastal community in New South Wales, Australia. Lifeguards and researchers (experts) provided structured feedback about the program in a survey and facilitated workshop students (n = 26) aged 11 to 13 years participated in focus group sessions intended to garner in‐depth understanding of their experiences at the beach and knowledge of, and attitudes towards, beach safety. The co‐design process provided a novel and inclusive model for beach safety education program development, and valuable lessons for future efforts. Specifically, student focus groups identified several facets of pre‐teens and younger teenagers' beach experience that prompted revision of the education program, primarily framing of program content and safety messages. Peers are a primary motivator for this age group and students' burgeoning independence emerged as an important theme. While knowledgeable about beach hazards and risks, students conveyed mixed safety attitudes and self‐reported safety practices, highlighting the importance of designing programs to motivate behaviour and promote safe decision‐making vs raising awareness alone. Findings illustrate the value of adopting co‐design processes for all beach safety programs, school or otherwise. Beach safety programs may not be delivering information that is needed, wanted or useful. Structured consultation with the priority population must become standard practice in beach safety and drowning prevention education program development.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2015.05.017
Abstract: This study describes the demographics, occurrence, location, primary hazards and outcomes involved in rescues performed by surfers on Australian beaches. Conservative estimates suggest that the number of rescues conducted by Australian surfers each year is on par with the number conducted by volunteer surf lifesavers. Surfers perform a considerable number of serious rescues in both lifesaver/lifeguard patrolled (45%) and unpatrolled (53%) beach locations. Rip currents represent the major physical hazard leading to rescue (75%) and the dominant emotional response of people rescued is one of panic (85%). Most surfer rescue events occur during conditions of moderate waves and sunny, fine weather with the highest proportion of rescues occurring on quiet beaches with few people around (26%). Swimming is the activity associated with most rescue events (63%), followed by board riding (25%). Males aged 18-29 represent the largest demographic of people rescued. Surfers with prior water-safety training are more likely to perform a higher number of rescues, however ability to perform rescues is not associated with formal training, but rather number of years' experience surfing. Seventy-eight percent of surfers were happy to help, while 28% expressed feelings of annoyance or inconvenience, generally towards unwary swimmers. Results of this research suggest that 63% of surfers feel they have saved a life. This value may be enhanced through improved training of surfers in basic water safety rescue techniques.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 31-07-2020
DOI: 10.1136/INJURYPREV-2020-043793
Abstract: Lifeguards are integral to beach safety and collect data which is used for a variety of purposes, although guidelines and best practice have yet to be established. This study served to identify and characterise existing beach lifeguard service provider (BLSP) data collection procedures in order to identify the degree of uniformity and areas for improvement. The ‘International Beach Lifeguard Data Collection and Reporting’ online survey was distributed via the International Drowning Researchers’ Alliance to BLSP supervisors and managers. The survey included questions on beach conditions and lifeguard activity data collection practices, and respondent’s opinions on their own BLSP’s methods. Variability in data collection practices was evident in surveys obtained from 55 lifeguard leaders in 12 countries. Discrepancies exist in definitions for ‘rescue’ among BLSPs, a significant amount of information related to beach conditions are recorded and beach visitation is primarily obtained by visual estimate. Respondents expressed challenges with getting frontline staff to collect information in the field and ensuring reporting consistency between recorders. They identified rescue victim demographic factors as key data they would like to collect in the future. Inconsistencies in lifeguard data collection present challenges to operations, safety education and prevention efforts, research and policy relying on these data. Variation in definitions, methods and collected variables generally restricts analysis to a single BLSP with limited generalisability to other beach settings. Some gaps in lifeguard data collection may soon be addressed by technology, but developing uniform, internationally acceptable standards and definitions should be prioritised.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-11-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Date: 26-10-2014
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 04-07-2017
DOI: 10.5194/NHESS-17-1003-2017
Abstract: Abstract. Rip currents pose a major global beach hazard estimates of annual rip-current-related deaths in the United States alone range from 35 to 100 per year. Despite increased social research into beach-goer experience, little is known about levels of rip current knowledge within the general population. This study describes the results of an online survey to determine the extent of rip current knowledge across the United States, with the aim of improving and enhancing existing beach safety education material. Results suggest that the US-based Break the Grip of the Rip!® c aign has been successful in educating the public about rip current safety directly or indirectly, with the majority of respondents able to provide an accurate description of how to escape a rip current. However, the success of the c aign is limited by discrepancies between personal observations at the beach and rip forecasts that are broadcasted for a large area and time. It was the infrequent beach user that identified the largest discrepancies between the forecast and their observations. Since infrequent beach users also do not seek out lifeguards or take the same precautions as frequent beach users, it is argued that they are also at greatest risk of being caught in a dangerous situation. Results of this study suggest a need for the national c aign to provide greater focus on locally specific and verified rip forecasts and signage in coordination with lifeguards, but not at the expense of the successful national awareness program.
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 26-05-2020
DOI: 10.2112/SI95-150.1
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-12-2014
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 09-10-2019
DOI: 10.5194/NHESS-19-2183-2019
Abstract: Abstract. The two primary causes of surf zone injuries (SZIs) worldwide, including fatal drowning and severe spinal injuries, are rip currents (rips) and shore-break waves. SZIs also result from surfing and bodyboarding activity. In this paper we address the primary environmental controls on SZIs along the high-energy meso–macro-tidal surf beach coast of southwestern France. A total of 2523 SZIs recorded by lifeguards over 186 s le days during the summers of 2007, 2009 and 2015 were combined with measured and/or hindcast weather, wave, tide, and beach morphology data. All SZIs occurred disproportionately on warm sunny days with low wind, likely because of increased beachgoer numbers and hazard exposure. Relationships were strongest for shore-break- and rip-related SZIs and weakest for surfing-related SZIs, the latter being also unaffected by tidal stage or range. Therefore, the analysis focused on bathers. More shore-break-related SZIs occur during shore-normal incident waves with average to below-average wave height (significant wave height, Hs = 0.75–1.5 m) and around higher water levels and large tide ranges when waves break on the steepest section of the beach. In contrast, more rip-related drownings occur near neap low tide, coinciding with maximised channel rip flow activity, under shore-normal incident waves with Hs .25 m and mean wave periods longer than 5 s. Additional drowning incidents occurred at spring high tide, presumably due to small-scale swash rips. The composite wave and tide parameters proposed by Scott et al. (2014) are key controlling factors determining SZI occurrence, although the risk ranges are not necessarily transferable to all sites. Summer beach and surf zone morphology is interannually highly variable, which is critical to SZI patterns. The upper beach slope can vary from 0.06 to 0.18 between summers, resulting in low and high shore-break-related SZIs, respectively. Summers with coast-wide highly (weakly) developed rip channels also result in widespread (scarce) rip-related drowning incidents. With life risk defined in terms of the number of people exposed to life threatening hazards at a beach, the ability of morphodynamic models to simulate primary beach morphology characteristics a few weeks or months in advance is therefore of paramount importance for predicting the primary surf zone life risks along this coast.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2012
Publisher: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.2112/05A-0016.1
No related grants have been discovered for Robert Brander.