Death by drowning? Geelong 1959 to 1974

Abstract

This paper reviews the circumstances of 142 deaths by drowning which occurred in Geelong and district during the years 1959 to 1974. The effectiveness of safety nets and protective fences as a means of preventing the accidental submersion of young children in home swimming pools is questioned. Consumption of alcohol before submersion played a major role in the death of many adult males. Of males aged 26 years and over, 79% imbibed alcohol before death, and 57% had a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.1% at autopsy. Of males aged 17 to 25 years of age, 25% imbibed alcohol before death and only half of these had a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.1% at autopsy. The age preponderance for consumption of alcohol and drowning is opposite to that for fatal motor vehicular accidents (in these males aged 17 to 25 years more frequently have significant blood alcohol concentrations at autopsy than males aged 26 years and over). No female consumed alcohol before submersion. The writer suggests that the public, and in particular males aged 26 years and over, should be warned as forcibly against the dangers of "swimming and drinking" and "boating and drinking" as they are against the dangers of "driving and drinking".