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  • The lived experience of rescuing people who have driven into floodwater: Understanding challenges and identifying areas for providing support

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    Hamilton158376.pdf (344.5Kb)
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    Accepted Manuscript (AM)
    Author(s)
    Keech, Jacob J
    Smith, Stephanie R
    Peden, Amy E
    Hagger, Martin S
    Hamilton, Kyra
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Hamilton, Kyra
    Year published
    2019
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    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: Drowning is a major public health issue, with risk increasing during times of flood. Driving into floodwater is a major risk factor for flood-related drowning and injury, and despite widespread public health campaigns, many people continue to undertake this risky behaviour and require rescue. PURPOSE: We aimed to identify key challenges faced by emergency services personnel when rescuing those who have driven into floodwater, and to identify strategies for supporting rescuers in this important role. METHODS: Australian flood rescue operators (N = 8) who had previously rescued a driver who had driven into floodwater ...
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    BACKGROUND: Drowning is a major public health issue, with risk increasing during times of flood. Driving into floodwater is a major risk factor for flood-related drowning and injury, and despite widespread public health campaigns, many people continue to undertake this risky behaviour and require rescue. PURPOSE: We aimed to identify key challenges faced by emergency services personnel when rescuing those who have driven into floodwater, and to identify strategies for supporting rescuers in this important role. METHODS: Australian flood rescue operators (N = 8) who had previously rescued a driver who had driven into floodwater participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four challenges emerged from their experiences: involvement of untrained personnel; varying information provided by emergency telephone operators; behaviour of drivers complicating the rescue; people sightseeing floods or flood rescues or ignoring closed roads providing rescuers with sources of distraction and frustration. CONCLUSIONS: We propose five strategies for translating these results into practice, including: training and protocol development for (i) emergency personnel and (ii) telephone operators; (iii) training for rescuers regarding non-compliant rescuees; (iv) educating the public and (v) increasing compliance with closed roads. Current findings provide valuable insights into how rescuers can be supported in performing their roles, and implementation of these strategies has the potential to reduce fatalities occurring due to attempting to drive through floodwater. SO WHAT?: The strategies presented have the potential to reduce the frequency and improve the outcomes of floodwater rescues, aiding in the prevention of injury and death.
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    Journal Title
    HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
    Volume
    30
    Issue
    2
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.181
    Copyright Statement
    © 2018 Australian Health Promotion Association. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal website for access to the definitive, published version.
    Note
    This publication has been entered into Griffith Research Online as an Advanced Online Version.
    Subject
    Health services and systems
    Public health
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/382899
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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