RESEARCH:
Drowning: The Exit Problem
UNIVERSITY OR ORGANISATION: Human Kinetics Inc
SUBJECT: Aquatic Education, Competence and Swimming
TYPE: Discussion Paper
DATE: 2014
“The Exit Problem” proposes that an unknown percentage of swimmers who die by drowning do so because they swam to where they think they are safe and they find themselves unable to exit the water, as opposed to drowning because they are unable to swim to safety. Forced to remain in the water, they eventually are swept away by currents as they become fatigued, trapped by underwater objects, bashed against rocks, trapped in mud, or they eventually succumb to cold shock and lose their grip as they are holding on to something. This paper suggests a number of solutions such as use of lights at ladders and other exit places and placement of hanging knotted ropes or grab chains at locations with steep sides.
COUNTRY
Ireland
AUTHORS
John Connolly
JOURNAL / PUBLICATION
International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education
RESPONDENTS
UK
Ireland
Australia
USA
ACTIVITY
Swimming
ENVIRONMENT
Ocean
Rivers
Lakes
AGE
All ages
GENDER
N/A
ETHNICITY
White / Irish
