A PARADIGM SHIFT IN LIFE SAVING: A UK PERSPECTIVE Allan Williams (UWTSD) & Cliff Nelson (RLSS)
In the context of water safety the RLSS UK s new vocational award, the National Water Safety Management Programme (NWSMP), is a solution to improving water safety and reducing drowning statistics.
Swimming - water is not the natural environment for homo sapiens - up to 409,272 deaths from drowning accidents each year - approximately 9,000 in USA Swimming Hazards - Rough sea state - Poor swimming knowledge - Extreme low water temperatures - Irresponsible swimming behaviour - Presence of physical / biological hazards Globally, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after road traffic injuries - excluding cataclysms (World Health Organisation)
UK Perspective: Preventable Deaths 450 drownings Preventable Swimming Dichotomy Industry Demand Lifesaving
Drowning Statistics Scottish coastline 8,149 miles; England and Wales 8,044 miles. Over 15,000 children reported lost at the seaside every year* Over half a million people received first aid for injuries sustained n the beach (recorded) Lifeguards rescued over 18,000 potential drowners* 450 people drowned in 2012 in UK. ( Risk categories 0-5/ 20-25/ >60 years old. Age 2-4 (backyard ponds) Most drownings: no intention of entering water Drowning statistics worldwide are not increasing Main hazards & causes of drowning????
Water activity presents significant health benefits. Playing in deep water creates significant drowning risk.
A dichotomy between research extolling the benefits of outdoor exercise and an increasing litigious society in which we live. UK government s Blue Gym initiative encourages engagement in activities near or in water -GIVES psycho-physiological benefits by the aquatic environment. In contrast a fear exists amongst the outdoor industry (particularly the education sector) that managing groups around water margins puts the leader at risk of litigation, as water is a hazard for any land based animal.
Most drownings occurring in managed group activities around/in water could be prevented through better risk management and planning. The research demonstrates the need for a paradigm shift, transferring the focus away from lifesaving to water safety management and prevention National Water Safety Management Programme - a suite of inter-linked modules, creating the flexibility to design bespoke awards for specific needs. Recognised by the UK Government s Health and Safety Executive, Expedition Providers Association and Royal Geographical Society.
Who is at risk on the beach? Employees Employers Self-employed General public Vulnerable people, youth, old and disabled Visitors Cleaners and contractors What is at risk? Buildings e.g. lifeguard hut. Plant and equipment, e.g. rescue craft, mechanical rake. Materials e.g. petrol, cleansing materials Work in progress e.g. gardeners. Safe e.g storing money. deaths major injuries minor injuries non-injury accidents THE ACCIDENT TRIANGLE
Beach Flags and SAFE Code Lifeguards on Patrol Swim between flags Dangerous to swim Do not enter water Zone for water sports Swimmers stay clear Strong wind No inflatables
Other, 1, (0.2%) Lakes, Reservoirs, 50, (12%) Homes Baths, 42, (10%) Garden Ponds, 13, (3 Docks, Harbours, 18, (4%) Canals, 34, (8%) River Streams etc., 167, (39%) Coastal, 87, (20%) Swimming Pools, 15, (4%)
National Water Safety Management Programme
NWSMP Structure River LEVEL 3 In-Water Rescue Risk Assessment Beach Water Safety Awareness Life Support LEVEL 2 Env. Spec. LEVEL 1 Core Module Still Water Level 1. core module, Water Safety Awareness not in water. Level 2. Environment specific modules, including beach, river and still water. In water skills + rescue skills Level 3, the In-Water Rescue module, providing in-water rescue life saving techniques for those supervising group activities in deep water.
Risk Benefit If the next generation enter the workplace having been protected from all risk they will not be so much risk averse as completely risk naïve. Judith Hackitt - Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2008 that in-water rescues would not have saved many of the 23 deaths by drowning on school visits which I am familiar since 1996. However, virtually all of these could have been prevented by good basic water hazard awareness training Head of Inspection, Adventure Activity Licensing Service 19
Changing Philosophy Water safety management Industry focused Partnership working Modular approach Increased access Electronic resources
Who is it for?
CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS So just how dangerous is open water? Nobody chooses to drown? Peer pressure Most drownings are within 5m of the bank Lack of awareness: effects of cold water Rescuers drown trying to save people or pets e.g. Blackpool 22
Indoor vs. Outdoor Water Where do most people learn to swim? Open water: deep, cold, murky water Cold water (Shock) is key hazard Hypothermia 23
BOATING ACCIDENTS Water temp 21-26 C - 8% fatalities; <15 C 40% fatalities, i.e. in water <15 C, there is a 500% increase of chance of death. 60% DROWN in water less than 10 C 43% drown less than 2 m from safety, majority had no lifejackets Prepare and Prevention are the keys. 1 st few mn = key. Cold shock uncontrolled breathing 1-2 mn. Cold incapacitation 10mns before-nerve (Signal) and muscle cells (Action) collapse. Hypothermia before unconsciousness occurs - 1hr with lifejacket. Keeping head above water = main thing 50% say survival is 5mn or less.
athway to Instructor? Instructor Attend Course Orientation Programme Vocational Award Supporting Employees Protecting Employers Probationary Instructor Safeguarding Lives
DROWNING PREVENTION MODEL Lack of knowledge Educate and inform Provide warnings Deny access Uninformed access Inability to cope Increase survival skills REDUCE DROWNINGS Provide supervision Lack of supervision
Dynamics Geography Hazards Conditions Environment P E What has happened? Changeability Risk Situation S INTERDEPENDENCE People Victims Supervisors Bystanders
Lack of visibility Underwater obstructions Entrapment Hazards Access/Egress Location Open Water Hazards People, Weather Temperature, Water Quality Depth Movement/Force
Hazard identification defines the magnitudes and probabilities (high-small) (high-small) e.g. In Europe: tsunami: magnitude & probability = small. skin cancer: magnitude high, probability? Risk moves emphasis of event to humans (Risk Management discipline) Risk = f (Occurrence probability, vulnerability). Hazard = f (risk, exposure, response). Some people argue that Risk = f (hazard, vulnerability) e.g. circumstances that could lead to death/injury to a bather/beach user.
From a lay persons perspective, the connection to probability theory and rational choice is not paramount. A lay person bypasses probability theory Risk notion of anticipating a future uncertain outcome The probability of an event combined with the losses/gains it will
Any action taken to permanently reduce or eliminate the long term vulnerability of human life and property from hazards These activities can occur - Before - During, and - After a Disaster, and they overlap all phases of emergency management / risk assessment Hazard is an abstract idea. Disaster is the realisation
Key Points Do something Common sense Control measures Not a one off exercise Beach Safety Management plan. Monitor Put pen to paper NONNE BAGNINE Oh, non ti preoccupare di loro Mavis, impazziti perché pensano che stanno perdendo il pranzo The RA process scares people but in practice is not that difficult, although the hazard might be complex to assess.
Control & Monitoring Measures Cleethorpes Brighton Southend Westonsuper-Mare Newquay Skegness / Mablethorpe Blackpool Bournemouth Torbay Poole Bridlington / Hornsea / Felixstowe Number of accidents / incidents per year 2500 2000 1500 1000 Number of accidents / incidents per year 500 0
Risk Rating Scales Are we more concerned with structures and erosion than:safety? Risk Improbable 1 Occasional 2 Frequent 3 Minor1 Major 2 Fatal pot. 3+ 1 2 3 2 4 6 3 6 9 Priority High - Immediate Medium - Reduce Low min. risk
LIKELIHOOD Alternative Risk Assessment Matrix SEVERITY MINOR (1) MAJOR (2) CRITICAL (3) FATAL (4) MULTIPLE FATALITIES (5) IMPROBABLE (1) 1 2 3 4 5 REMOTE (2) 2 4 6 8 10 OCCASIONAL (3) 3 6 9 12 15 PROBABLE (4) 4 8 12 16 20 FREQUENT (5) 5 10 15 20 25 HIGH PRIORITY The level of risk is unacceptable and cannot be justified on any grounds, immediate high level control measures should be applied. MEDIUM PRIORITY The level of risk is significant and medium level control measures should be applied to reduce the risk as soon as possible. LOW PRIORITY The level of risk is at a level where low level control measures suffice. 35
Beach safety is influenced by Headlands Oblique waves High tides Rising seas Strong onshore & alongshore winds Mega ripples Low tide Changing wave conditions PEOPLE
An average rip under average waves (<1.5m) in a 50m surf zone can carry one outside the breakers in as little as 30 seconds. Velocities here are 5.4km/ hour. Olympic swimmer = 7km/hour A 3m wave is 10 times as powerful as a 1m wave and 100 times more powerful than a 0.3m wave
Environmental hazards: 1) Local geography 2) Beach Configuration 3) Beach Composition 4) Tides and Currents 5) Waves 6) Weather 7)Water Quality Manmade Hazards 1) Structures Piers, Harbours, Jetties 2) Coastal Defences Sea Walls, Wave Breaks, Groynes 3) Hazardous substances Equipment Hazards e.g. Winches, transport etc. Human Hazards Activity Hazards What people do e.g. Swimming, Surfing Windsurfing Behavioural Hazards How people do e.g. Alcohol, Bravado, Ignorance etc Vulnerable Groups Lifeguard/Employee Hazards 1) Normal Operations 2) Emergency Operations Summary Assessment - Hazard/Risk profile (Severity; Likelihood; Action Rating) Assessment Updates
Environmental Hazards, Beach Configuration - Point 2 The area covered by this assessment has the following configuration A gradient of 1:10 or less Abrupt changes in depth/shelving/troughs Abrupt changes in depth/shelving troughs Rip channels Sand bars interceded by deep troughs Summarize/describe other significant hazards present which could cause harm, if/by People/Property/Equipment at risk Specialised Risk Assessment Required? YES NO Details Rating Severity Likelihood Action Rating So let us have a coffee Current Control Measures break! Are these adequate? Yes No Action Levels Identified? Yes No Detail Further control measures recommend Other Personnel/Depts/Agencies involved Target dates for achievement of further controls Information and Training Needs Completed On; By Monitoring Frequency Person Responsible Review dates