Patterns of drowning and near drowning in NSW.

An analysis of drowning in Australia showed that, overall, rates of drowning are low compared to other injuries. In NSW between 1995 and 1999, drowning was the sixth most common injury-related cause of death, and neardrowning was the eighth most common cause of injury-related hospitalisation. However, as these are population-based estimates, the rates underestimate the risk involved in exposure to water-related hazards. As many people are not regularly exposed to bodies of water, the risk for those who are is significantly higher than that suggested by the population rate. This article describes the relationship between exposure to water and the risk of drowning.