Four hundred and thirty-five of the world’s leading drowning prevention professionals joined together in Danang, Vietnam to participate in the International Life Saving Federation’s World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2011. The conference had one specific aim: to focus world attention on the global burden of drowning, and especially on the epidemic of drowning deaths in developing countries.
Various resources are now available on the conference website: www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention.com
Some of these resources are listed below:
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS ” (INCLUDING ABSTRACT AND POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS)
Through the contribution of delegates, 291 presentations were shared, including 50 poster presentations. Abstract and PowerPoint Presentations from the conference are now available online and will be a valuable resource for all those working in drowning prevention.
CONFERENCE AWARDS
At the conclusion of the conference, awards were presented for the People’s Choice, Best Conference Presentation, Best Conference Abstract and Best Poster.
People’s Choice Award ” Surveillance and detection of beach lifeguards ” Dr Jenny Page
Best Poster Presentation ” The Buddy System Hands around the globe: Improving communication and cooperation between ILS member nations ” Robert Stallman
Best Conference Presentation ” A session focussed on medial issues and treatments ” Professor Michael Tipton
Best Conference Abstract ” Policy Strategy to Prevent Open Water Drowning ” Elizabeth Bennett.
All abstracts and presentations/posters are available online for review.
INTERVIEWS
Leading experts were interviewed about the issue of child drowning in low and middle income countries during the conference. These interviews can be viewed online and include:
- Dr Steve Beerman, International Life Saving Federation (ILS) President, discussing ILS involvement in preventing child drowning in LMICs and the decision to hold the WCDP2011 in Vietnam
- Dr Michael Linnan, Technical Director from The Alliance for Safe Children (TASC), discussing the issue of child drowning in low and middle income countries.
- Ross Cox, from The Alliance for Safe Children (TASC), explaining child drowning as a leading cause of child death in Asia.
- Dr Aminur Rahman, Director of the International Drowning Research Centre ” Bangladesh (IDRCB), explaining how evidence shows that drowning can be prevented in low income settings.
The World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2011 sort to build a global platform to reduce drowning. All conference participants embraced the need to build collaboration, further research into effective interventions, and respond to drowning in all communities. The draft Global Platform to Reduce Drowning is under development and will be available shortly as a consultaton draft.
