The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services a decrease in the number of drowning deaths in the state between 2012 to 2015.
Epidemiologist Specialist Scott Saxon with the Department’s Injury Surveillance Program…
Saxon: “We’ve seen a decrease of 20 percent, which is 8.9 per 100,000, between 2000 to 2006, to 7.1 per 100,000 during 2007 to 2012, and obviously that’s a significant decrease in drowning deaths and we’re pretty happy with that.”
The average annual drowning rate among children 0-9 years-old decreased by 45 percent during that same period.
He says despite that good news, drowning remains one of the top five causes of unintentional injury deaths in Alaska.
Between 2013 to 2015 there were 143 drownings, 125, or 87 percent of which were not related to jobs near water. Of the 125 non-occupational, 54 percent of the victims were suspected or confirmed to have used drugs or alcohol prior to the incident.
Saxon gave general tips for Alaskans to continue to decrease drowning deaths in Alaska.
Saxon: “Every Alaskan can keep moving that needle to greater and greater decrease by modeling good behaviors, especially adults around children and then wearing their PFDs, that kind of thing, when it comes to boating and then being aware of water. If you look at the [Epidemiology] Bulletin one of the circumstances is walking along or being near water in general, just be aware of where you’re at and keep an eye on children around buckets and that sort of thing especially those 0-9 because 91 percent of those were left unattended by an adult.”
He also recommended that boaters get in the habit of filing float plans, either with friends and family or through the Alaska Office of Boating Safety, that way authorities can respond to your location quicker if an incident occurs.