Application of ecological dynamics principles to drowning prevention

Button, C; Ng, JL; Burnay, C; van Duijn, T

Application of ecological dynamics principles to drowning prevention

Button, C Ng, JL Burnay, C van Duijn, T

Permalink

Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2022, 2, (1), pp. 59-66
Issue Date:: 2022-06-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (1.92 MB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Button, C
dc.contributor.author	Ng, JL
dc.contributor.author	Burnay, C
dc.contributor.author	van Duijn, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3869-7600
dc.date.accessioned	2023-06-17T00:31:58Z
dc.date.available	2023-06-17T00:31:58Z
dc.date.issued	2022-06-01
dc.identifier.citation	Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2022, 2, (1), pp. 59-66
dc.identifier.issn	2667-2391
dc.identifier.issn	2667-2391
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/170773
dc.description.abstract	Drowning has been identified as the cause of over 2.5 million preventable deaths globally in the past decade. Lower- and middle-income countries in Asia have recorded the highest numbers of drowning worldwide and children seem particularly vulnerable. Drowning is a complex phenomenon informed by multiple interacting factors, and the majority of deaths occur in natural environments such as ponds, ditches, rivers and oceans. Any potential drowning prevention strategy should acknowledge the important relationships that are created between individuals and their environment in water safety education. In this article, we share how the ecological dynamics theoretical perspective can help inform our understanding of drowning prevention. First, we review recent drowning prevention recommendations provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Next, we discuss how well WHO's recommendations align with the principles of ecological dynamics. It is acknowledged that in many Asian countries, there are considerable challenges to delivering WHO's drowning prevention interventions. Teaching children basic swimming, water safety and self-rescue skills remains the most practical means to prevent drowning. The relevant scale of analysis for understanding behaviour is the individual-environment relationship. Specifically, the relative fit between these components may dictate how well water safety skills are learnt. Considerations such as installing barriers and adequate supervision around water can be scaffolded alongside an understanding of affordances in the context of water safety. We conclude that water safety education informed by an ecological dynamics approach is an effective partnership to help tackle the drowning pandemic.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ajsep.2022.04.001
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Application of ecological dynamics principles to drowning prevention
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-06-17T00:31:56Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	2
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Drowning has been identified as the cause of over 2.5 million preventable deaths globally in the past decade. Lower- and middle-income countries in Asia have recorded the highest numbers of drowning worldwide and children seem particularly vulnerable. Drowning is a complex phenomenon informed by multiple interacting factors, and the majority of deaths occur in natural environments such as ponds, ditches, rivers and oceans. Any potential drowning prevention strategy should acknowledge the important relationships that are created between individuals and their environment in water safety education. In this article, we share how the ecological dynamics theoretical perspective can help inform our understanding of drowning prevention. First, we review recent drowning prevention recommendations provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Next, we discuss how well WHO's recommendations align with the principles of ecological dynamics. It is acknowledged that in many Asian countries, there are considerable challenges to delivering WHO's drowning prevention interventions. Teaching children basic swimming, water safety and self-rescue skills remains the most practical means to prevent drowning. The relevant scale of analysis for understanding behaviour is the individual-environment relationship. Specifically, the relative fit between these components may dictate how well water safety skills are learnt. Considerations such as installing barriers and adequate supervision around water can be scaffolded alongside an understanding of affordances in the context of water safety. We conclude that water safety education informed by an ecological dynamics approach is an effective partnership to help tackle the drowning pandemic.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/170773