DS 15 Publish a Comprehensive Annual National Report on Drowning Statistics
Create and disseminate a comprehensive annual national drowning report comprised of fatal and nonfatal data from multiple sources, including, but not limited to: WISQARS, WONDER, USCG Boating report, CPSC.
Spectrum level: Changing Organizational Practices
Evidence level: Low
Rationale:
Timely drowning surveillance data is critical to guide prevention programs. Current drowning surveillance reports are siloed (e.g., boating (USCG) or residential swimming pool (CPSC). Additionally, no reporting agency covers open water or natural water drowning on an annual basis, other than the US Army Corps of Engineers for their recreational areas. A single entity identified to organize, analyze and release an annual report is needed. This entity could release an analysis template so the states could release coordinated and comparable state level data in a timely way.
Anticipated Impact:
After implementing this recommendation, you can expect to experience the following outcomes.
- An organized, comprehensive, and consitent analysis can assists in prioritizing and addressing areas of greatest need, while also assisting in coordinating efforts across responsible entities.
- An annual report generates media interest and increased public awareness.
Evidence:
Regular surveillance publications by the CDC are routinely sought by the academics, media and programs. The annual pool submersion report by US CPSC generates media interest each year and assists CPSC in monitoring prevention efforts. A coordinated and comprehensive report released regularly is needed.
High Risk Populations Addressed:
All populations can benefit from implementation of this recommendation.
Evaluation Metrics:
Indicators of long-term impact:
- Release of an annual US drowning report
- Similar reports released at the state level
- Reports released in a timely manner so that programs can monitor and improve their efforts
- Development and dissemination of coordinated, comprehensive report on a regular basis
Indicators of intermediate impact:
- Gathering of similar types of reports created by agencies to be reviewed to help provide vision of what reports might look like in the future
Indicators of initial impact:
- Identification of responsible entity
- Development of an analysis plan and data needs
Implementation:
Consider the following to ensure successful implementation:
- Release an analysis template so the states could release coordinated and comparable state level data in a timely way.
- Reference other countries' annual reports like Canada or Australia.
- Develop a parallel analysis plan with annual reports to disseminate to states so that they can provide state level data in a similar fashion.
Challenges to Implementation:
When implementing this recommendation, you might encounter challenges related to the following factors.
- Infrastructure may be lacking.
- Coordination of efforts may be difficult.
- Leadership may be limited.
Potential Facilitators:
The following factors might facilitate the implementation of this recommendation.
- Consider the work of groups creating such reports for their own work.
- Designate leadership and use valid and reliable examples to build a comprehensive annual national drowning report
- Comprise the annual report of fatal and nonfatal data from multiple sources can be visualized, created, and disseminated.
GAP Recommendation:
None