This is shown by research into risk factors for drowning in the Netherlands conducted by the Mulier Institute as part of the NL Zwemveilig project. In collaboration with VeiligheidNL, available data from hospitals and emergency departments were analysed, and a media analysis was carried out. This study examined who the victims of drownings are, which activities are risky and in which environments people drown.
Some other findings are:
- Drownings among adolescents (10–14 years) mainly occur in and around a lake, during sports and recreational activities.
- Among young adults and adults, drownings are often the result of sports- and traffic-related activities or accidents. The locations of these accidents are generally a river/canal and a canal/ditch/pond.
- No specific activity can be identified among older people in which more drownings occur. In terms of location, a river/canal and canal/ditch/pond are also the most important locations for drownings among older people. Swimming pools, beaches and lakes are less risky environments for older people in terms of drowning.
The research provides starting points for developing specific preventive measures to prevent drowning. It is important that measures are developed together with the target group, stakeholders and professionals involved in drowning prevention in the Netherlands.
Click here for the report Risk Factors for Drowning in the Netherlands.
The research was conducted as part of the NL Zwemveilig project, coordinated by the National Council for Swimming Safety. Click here for more information about NL Zwemveilig.