Patrick M, Bint M, Pearn J
Med J Aust. 1979 Jan 27;1(2):61-4. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1979.tb111997.x.
A large total population study of childhood saltwater immersion accidents is reported. A total of 49 cases (16 fatalities, 33 survivors) occurred in the five year period from 1971 to 1975 in southeastern Queensland. As a group, more children survive a potentially fatal saltwater immersion (67%) than do those who lose consciousness in freshwater (50%). The serious saltwater accident rate (loss of consciousness or death) in childhood (from 0 to 15 years inclusive, is 3.37/100,000 children per year at risk (fatality rate 1.12). This is low; comparison with freshwater data shows that although the surf presents special hazards to children, it is very much safer than other types of water. Age-specific and site-specific accident and survival rates for saltwater immersions are presented for the first time. Toddlers are disproportionately represented (33% of all children) and their survival rates are lowest. Boating and the use of surfboards, in current practice, are negligible threats to children. The saltwater immersion rate is increasing (although the absolute risk is small) and reasons for this are discussed. Childhood saltwater immersions were unaffected by tidal state. All but one case of immersion occurred during daylight hours, and in younger children immersion occurred often on weekends.
本文报道了一项关于儿童海水溺水事故的大型总体人群研究。1971年至1975年的五年间，昆士兰州东南部共发生了49起此类事故（16人死亡，33人幸存）。总体而言，相比在淡水中失去意识的儿童，更多遭遇潜在致命海水溺水的儿童得以幸存（67% 对比50%）。儿童期（0至15岁，含15岁）严重海水溺水事故率（失去意识或死亡）为每年每100,000名有风险儿童3.37例（死亡率1.12）。这一比率较低；与淡水数据对比表明，尽管海浪对儿童构成特殊危险，但海水比其他类型的水域安全得多。首次给出了海水溺水按年龄和地点划分的事故率及存活率。幼儿在事故中占比过高（占所有儿童的33%），且其存活率最低。目前来看，划船和使用冲浪板对儿童造成危险的可能性很小。海水溺水率在上升（尽管绝对风险较小），并对其原因进行了讨论。儿童海水溺水事故不受潮汐状态影响。除1例事故外，所有溺水事故均发生在白天，且年幼儿童的溺水事故常发生在周末。
