NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre, Building G2, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
Accid Anal Prev. 2010 Nov;42(6):1785-804. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.04.020. Epub 2010 Jun 1.
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.
在澳大利亚，平均每年有 82 人因沿海溺水而死亡。海滩旗帜是在海滩上使用的主要安全策略。它们位于远离激流的地方，激流是影响游泳者的主要海滩危险。人们选择在与旗帜和激流相关的地方游泳的行为和动机因素知之甚少。
评估海滩游客与海滩旗帜和激流相关的信念和行为。
在新南威尔士州的海滩上采访了海滩游客，了解他们的游泳信念和行为。他们被要求在描绘涉及海滩旗帜和固定激流的海滩场景的图片上指出他们会在哪里以及不会在哪里游泳。进行逻辑回归分析以确定正确和错误游泳行为的预测因素。
年龄在 30 至 49 岁之间的海滩游客（OR 0.34，95%CI 0.16，0.74，p=0.006）比其他游泳者更不可能选择在旗帜之间游泳。此外，与孩子一起在海滩上的海滩游客更有可能选择在旗帜之间游泳（OR 2.74，95%CI 1.39，5.40，p=0.004）。对激流有基本了解的海滩游客更有可能远离激流游泳（OR 11.59，95%CI 5.89，22.81，p<0.001）。
年龄在 30 至 49 岁之间的海洋游泳者可能会选择在旗帜外游泳，尽管他们不一定在激流中游泳。在旗帜外游泳可能与经验有关。旗帜对有孩子的父母和照顾者有吸引力。尽管旗帜表明海滩的一个相对安全区域，但在该区域监督孩子仍然至关重要。基本的激流知识是制定旨在减少沿海溺水事件的国家干预措施的重要组成部分。海滩游客显然需要知道激流的样子才能主动避免在其中游泳。
