Author:
Koon William,Peden Amy E.,Brander Robert W.
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Surfers play a critical role in coastal drowning prevention, conservatively estimated to make as many rescues as beach lifeguards. The Surfer Rescue 24/7 (SR24/7) program is a coastal safety intervention in Australia and New Zealand that teaches surfers safe rescue skills and promotes prevention activities. This multi-part, mixed-methods study aimed to evaluate the impact of the SR24/7 program.
Methods
The study consisted of three parts employing quantitative and qualitative methods: a retrospective survey of course participants, in-depth interviews with course participants who had conducted rescues, and an analysis of self-reported skills confidence ratings before and after the program.
Results
Triangulated results from the three study components indicated that after the course, participants exhibited high levels of satisfaction with their experience in the program and would encourage others to attend, were more observant and aware of safety concerns while surfing, had a better understanding of ocean conditions and hazards, learned new rescue techniques and skills, grasped important course concepts related to their own personal safety, and improved their confidence in responding to an emergency situation. Several participants had conducted rescues in real life and indicated that the course was effective in providing them with the baseline knowledge and skills to keep safe while helping others in the ocean. This study also provides new insight on the role of surfers in coastal safety, specifically that surfers are engaged in a range of prevention activities before rescue is required.
Conclusions
Despite persistent challenges in combating coastal drowning rates, the SR24/7 program is an effective intervention that helps save lives. Importantly, this study provides evidence that the course successfully equips surfers with techniques to act responsibly and safely. Expanding coastal safety focus and resources towards surfers, an often-overlooked demographic in beach safety strategies, could substantially enhance community-level capacity to prevent and respond to ocean emergencies.
Funder
UNSW Faculty of Science - Social Good Seed Fund
Surfing New South Wales
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Reference62 articles.
1. World Health Organization [WHO]. Global report on drowning: preventing a leading killer. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/143893/9789241564786_eng.pdf
2. Franklin RC, Peden AE, Hamilton EB, Bisignano C, Castle CD, Dingels ZV, James SL. The burden of unintentional drowning: global, regional and national estimates of mortality from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study. Inj Prev. 2020;26(Suppl 2):i83–95. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2019-043484corr1.
3. Barnsley PD, Peden AE, Scarr J. Calculating the economic burden of fatal drowning in Australia. J Safety Res. 2018;67:57–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2018.09.002.
4. Peden AE, Mahony AJ, Barnsley PD, Scarr J. Understanding the full burden of drowning: a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of fatal and non-fatal drowning in Australia. BMJ Open. 2018;8(11):e024868. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024868.
5. Rahman A, Peden AE, Ashraf L, Ryan D, Bhuiyan AA, Beerman S. “Drowning: Global Burden, Risk Factors, and Prevention Strategies.” In: Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of Global Public Health. 2021.