DS 16 Publish an Annual Comprehensive State Drowning Report
Create and disseminate a comprehensive annual state drowning report comprised of fatal and nonfatal data from multiple sources, including, but not limited to: WISQARS, WONDER, USCG Boating report, CPSC, state injury databases.
Rationale:
Annual data analysis and reporting at the state level could serve to identify and quantify specific drowning trends including emerging increased risk of drowning in certain populations, locations, and activities. Annual reporting would also provide a benchmark for drowning prevention efforts at the state and local levels, as well as enable the monitoring of progress overtime. The U.S. does not currently comprehensively analyze or report on all fatal and non-fatal drowning data on an annual basis. Although not all states have sources of non fatal drownings, several states have ways to access this data, through computerized state hospital registries (WA) or the development of state drowning surveillance systems (CA).
Anticipated Impact:
After implementing this recommendation, you can expect to experience the following outcomes.
- Annual data analysis and reporting at the state level leads to more effective ways to identify and quantify specific drowning trends (including emerging increased risk of drowning in certain populations, locations, and activities).
- Annual reporting provides a benchmark for drowning prevention efforts at the state and local level, and enables the monitoring of progress overtime.
- An annual report generates media interest and increased public awareness.
Evidence:
Annual reports are used by policy makers at all levels to prioritize and monitor programs and efforts.
High Risk Populations Addressed:
All populations can benefit from implementation of this recommendation.
Evaluation Metrics:
Indicators of long-term impact:
- Development and dissemination of a coordinated, comprehensive annual report at a state-specific level
Indicators of intermediate impact:
- Other models from public health reports are collected, reviewed, learned from, and applied at the state level
Indicators of initial impact:
- Identification of responsible entity
- Development of an analysis plan and data needs
Implementation:
Consider the following to ensure successful implementation:
- Develop an analysis plan (including relevant code) that is readily usable by most states along with training in its use.
- Consider that state level plans are most helpful with standardized reporting so that comparisons can be made both within and between states.
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.
- Access among states to similar databases may be limited.
Potential Facilitators:
The following factors might facilitate the implementation of this recommendation.
- The ability to readily report and compare within and between states should be desirable.
- State report templates with applicable code should reduce time, staff, and expertise needed to complete a report.
GAP Recommendation:
None