image: "Four out of five drownings happen without a witness," said Jason Buick, lead author and a University of Toronto graduate student doing a research project with Rescu at St. Michael's Hospital. view more
Credit: St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
TORONTO, Nov. 13, 2013— Two new research studies show that location is the most important factor in determining drowning survival.
"Ontarians from rural areas are almost three times more likely to die of drowning than urban residents," said Dr. Stephen Hwang of the Centre for Research on Inner City Health at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
Rural residents' increased access to open water, and possibly decreased access to swimming lessons, were some of the factors that the study's authors felt might account for the difference between rural and urban drowning rates.
Another study, published today in Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, showed that most drownings occur in public places – such as on open water, recreation centres or parks.
"Even though most occur in public, four out of five drownings happen without a witness," said Jason Buick, lead author and a University of Toronto graduate student doing a research project with Rescu at St. Michael's Hospital. "Canadians aren't using good judgment when it comes to water safety."
Using a database of cardiac cases attended by Greater Toronto Area paramedic services, Buick found that bystanders performed CPR for half of all drownings, but only one-third of all other cardiac incidents.
Despite being more likely to receive bystander CPR, a drowning victim's five per cent chance of survival is as low as all other cardiac arrests – highlighting that more needs to be done to improve survival.
Buick recommends swimming with others in public spaces where lifeguards or other bystanders are more common.
Differing CPR rates may result from increased bystander recognition. Many Canadians first learn CPR in swimming classes and more easily associate drowning and CPR – especially when a victim is found in or around water.
"We can improve survival by emphasizing the importance of providing CPR and by teaching more people to perform it," said Buick, who is also a paramedic.
The number of Canadian drowning incidents has risen since 2004 and the Lifesaving Society of Canada estimates that between 400 and 500 people drown countrywide every year.
The rural drowning rates study, published this week in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, looked at five years of Ontario drowning data from 2004 to 2008. The lead authors on the study were internal medicine residents Dr. Michael Fralick and Dr. Zane Gallinger.
Rescu is part of the Resuscitations Outcomes Consortium, a large research collaboration of 10 sites across the United States and Canada, studying how promising new tools and treatments can improve survival rates among people who suffer cardiac arrest or life-threatening traumatic injury outside of hospitals.
About St. Michael's Hospital
St Michael's Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in 27 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital's recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael's Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.
Media contacts
For more information, or to arrange an interview with one of the studies' authors, please contact:
Geoff Koehler
Adviser, Media Relations
St. Michael's Hospital
416-864-6060 ext. 6537
koehlerg@smh.ca
Journal
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine