COA S TAL SAFE T Y BRIE F RIP CURRE NT S S U R F L I FE S AV I N G AU S T R A L I A
R INPAT CU I ORN RA E LN TO V SN E RAVP ISEHWO T 2 0 0 4 -1 9
ANALYSIS On average 21 people drown per year as a result of rip currents in Australia. It’s the highest number of deaths for an individual hazard.
4 57
28 22 AVERAGE DEATHS PER YEAR
21
152
AVERAGE FATALITY RATE
0.09
42 10
PER 100,000 POPULATION
LOCATION 7%
KEY DEMOGRAPHIC MALES AGED
3% 1%
1%
15-39
Australian residents Australian born & Overseas born
88%
MALE
FATALITIES
BEACH
88%
AVERAGE AGE
315 87% 36
Beach Rock/Cliff Bay Jetty Offshore
0.16 0.12
0.11 0.10
0.10
0.10
0.07
32
21
2004-05 2005-06
26
22
2006-07
2007-08
0.10
14
0.10
2008-09 2009-10
14
23
2010-11
2011-12
SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTR ALIA SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTR SECTION ALIA
0.09
0.06
0.07
22
0.10
22
22
14
0.08
0.05
26
13
25
20
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
21
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS SECTION NAME COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
RIP CURRENTS IN AUSTR ALIA
Rip currents are the number one hazard at the Australian coast with more than 17,000 rips in Australia on any given day. A rip current is a narrow seaward flowing current of water moving through the surf zone. Rip currents are a significant contributor to coastal drowning deaths and account for more deaths per year than sharks, floods and cyclones combined1. The Surf Life Saving Australia National Coastal Safety Survey 20192 revealed that there are 9.3 million Australian adults who go swimming and wading at the coast. Furthermore, rips have been the contributing factor in 25% of drowning deaths over the last 15 years (2004–2019). There were 315 rip-current-related drowning deaths between 2004–19 on the Australian coast, which is an average of 21 per year3. Most of these deaths occurred while swimming or wading, predominantly at unpatrolled locations or at patrolled locations outside of patrol hours. Young males aged 15-39 are highly represented in the drowning statistics and are a key target group for rip-current-related interventions. This demographic comprises over one third (39%) of coastal drowning deaths and represent more than half (59%) of rip current related fatalities. The Ipsos Social Research Institute Swimming and Wading Report 2016 highlighted that swimming at the beach is a core part of Australian culture. It is primarily about fun and relaxation. As a result, swimmers typically do not feel that they need safety information and they do not seek it out. Public messages regarding rip safety need to be pushed to swimmers and other coastal participants, and they need to challenge their beliefs regarding beach safety. Surf Life Saving Australia has created a national rip current safety campaign that aims to increase awareness of the rip current hazard and influence risky behaviours, particularly in young men. The campaign was launched in 2016 and over a five-year period will deliver key messages and strategies for beachgoers to identify and avoid rip currents, as well as understand what to do should they get into trouble.
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
L O C AT I O N
2004-2019
RIP CURRENT DROWNING DEATHS BY STATE (n=315)
Key to Drowning Activity
Attempting a Rescue Boating and PWC Fall Jump Land-based Fishing Other Rock Fishing
28 (9%)
Scuba Diving Snorkelling Swimming/Wading Unknown Watercraft Multiple instances per activity at the same location
4
Capital city
2 2
PERTH
RIP CURRENT BLACKSPOTS
NSW
VIC
QLD
Byron Shire (19) City of Coffs Harbour (17) Central Coast Council (15) City of Wollongong (12) City of Shoalhaven (12) Ballina Shire (10) Tweed Shire (8) Waverley Council (6) Northern Beaches Council (6)
Bass Coast Shire (7) Surf Coast Shire (7) Mornington Peninsula Shire (6)
City of Gold Coast (27) Sunshine Coast Council (15)
SA City of Victor Harbor (7)
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
DARWIN 2
4 (1%)
57 (18%)
3
2 5 2 2
22 (7%)
3 3
BRISBANE 3 23
7 16 2 7 2 2 12 3 2
1 2
152 (48%)
3 2 6
2 2 10 3 2
ADELAIDE
6 11 2
2 3
SYDNEY 4 2
CANBERRA
MELBOURNE
10 5
2 3
4 3 4
5
3
42 (13%)
2 6
2 4
0
1,000km
SCAL E
10 HOBART (3%) SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTR ALIA
5
2
COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
C A U S A L A N A LY S I S 2 0 0 4 –1 9
WHERE
WHEN
88%
68%
69%
AT A BEACH LOCATION
AFTERNOON (12-6PM)
SWIMMERS/WADERS
53%
54%
14%
MORE THAN 1KM FROM A LIFESAVING SERVICE
DECEMBER-FEBRUARY
ATTEMPTING A RESCUE
58%
57%
28%
LIVED MORE THAN 50KM FROM DROWNING LOCATION
OF KNOWN CASES COULD TOUCH THE BOTTOM WHEN THEY GOT CAUGHT IN A RIP
OF KNOWN CASES WERE RESCUED BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
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WHO
COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
C A U S A L A N A LY S I S 2 0 0 4 –1 9
WHO
87% MALE
39%
36
20%
AGED 15 - 29
AVERAGE AGE OF DECEASED
AGED 30-39
REGION OF RESIDENCE
RESCUED BY Of known cases
3% 9%
28% 2%
22%
22%
13%
86%
AUSTRALIA
Australia Europe Asia The Americas
86%
Member of the public
ACTIVITY
Lifeguard/ Other Lifesaver service (incl. off-duty) (incl. police)
Unknown
3%
2%
Family/ Friend
Body not recovered
DEPTH AT TIME OF INCIDENT Of known cases
2%
8%
14%
1%
69%
SWIMMING/ WADING
69%
Swimming/Wading Attempting a Rescue Watercraft Rock Fishing Snorkelling Falls & Jumps Scuba Diving Land-based Fishing Boating & PWC Other
SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTR ALIA
43% 57% OVERHEAD
7
COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
COULD TOUCH THE BOTTOM
C A U S A L A N A LY S I S 2 0 0 4 -1 9
AGE Male
49
Female
46
RIP CURRENT DROWNING DEATHS BY AGE (n=315) 20-29 year olds account for 30% of all rip current-related drowning deaths (n=95) and are twice as likely to drown due to rip currents with a mortality rate of 0.20 per 100,000 population, which is more than double the 15-year average (0.09 per 100,000 population).
35 28
27
22
20
19 15
16
11 8
8
0-4
5-9
5
10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74
3
3
75-79 80-84
85+
TIME 40
36
37
33
RIP CURRENT DROWNING DEATHS BY TIME (n=300*)
19 12
14 9
8 5
4
MONTH 55
50 42
Most rip current related drowning deaths occur during the summer months. Shading denotes seasons.
33
18
17 9 4 July
August
7
6
September October November December
SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTR ALIA
8
January
February
March
COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
April
May
June
2
11 - 12am
8 - 9pm
7 - 8pm
6 - 7pm
4 - 5pm
5 - 6pm
3 - 4pm
2 - 3pm
1 - 2pm
0
74
RIP CURRENT DROWNING DEATHS BY MONTH (n=315)
12 - 1pm
10 - 11am
11 - 12pm
9 - 10am
8 - 9am
7 - 8am
6 - 7am
1
10 - 11pm
4
1
5 - 6am
0
4 - 5am
1
3 - 4am
1 - 2am
2
2 - 3am
5 1
9 - 10pm
7
12 - 1am
*Of known times. This is under reporting nighttime deaths. They are usually not recorded until the morning and happen without witnesses. Time would be recorded as 'unknown' and excluded from the analysis. 5% (n=5) of cases happened at unknown times. 68% (n=205) occurred in the afternoon between 12 – 6pm.
30
29
ORIGIN
36%
RIP CURRENT DROWNING DEATHS BY CONTINENT OF BIRTH (n=308) 20-29 year olds account for 30% of all rip current-related drowning deaths (n=95) and are twice as likely to drown due to rip currents with a average rate of 0.20 per 100,000 population, which is more than double the 15-year average (0.09 per 100,000 population).
22%
21% 14%
3% Australia
Oceania
Asia
Europe
5%
The Americas
Africa
DAY 24% 22%
RIP CURRENT DROWNING DEATHS BY DAY (n=314) 46% of drowning deaths occurred on the weekend. Day was unknown for one incident and was exlcuded from analysis.
13%
12%
11%
11% 8%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
REMOTENESS 40%
42%
RIP CURRENT DROWNING DEATHS BY REMOTENESS (n=315) 82% of rip related drowning deaths occurred at locations within major cities or inner regional areas.
13% 4% >1% Major Cities
SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTR ALIA
Inner Regional
9
Outer Regional
Remote
COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
Very Remote
P A R T I C I P AT I O N P R O F I L E
9.3 M
14.7 M
2014–2019 USUAL SWIMMING/WADING LOCATION
2019 AUSTRALIAN ADULTS ABILITY TO SWIM & FLOAT UNAIDED IN COASTAL AREAS
COASTAL SWIMMERS/WADERS
6%
AUSTRALIAN ADULTS VISITED THE COAST IN 2018/19
4%
7%
7% 8%
10%
Can swim for over 1 hour and float as long as I wish Can comfortable float, and swim for up to 60 minutes
22%
42%
42%
8%
22%
Patrolled beach during patrol hours only Patrolled beach, but not always during patrolled hours Unpatrolled beach Coastal pools Can't say
PATROLLED BEACH 26%
Comfortable float and swim up to 30 minutes
20%
Can comfortable float, and swim gently for 15 minutes
CANNOT SWIM OR FLOAT
Can comfortable float for 1+ minute, and swim a little Cannot float or swim Can't say
26%
3 IN10
AUSTRALIANS SAY THEY CANNOT SWIM OR FLOAT FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES IN THE OCEAN
2019 REASONS SWIMMERS/WADERS DON’T ALWAYS GO TO A PATROLLED LOCATION DURING PATROL TIMES Can't say Other
1% 2% 18%
There is no patrolled beach close to where I live
21%
I like to visit other beaches that are unpatrolled
23%
I swim outside patrol hours
27%
I am a good/confident swimmer
31%
They are too crowded
32%
I like secluded and quiet beaches
35%
I feel safe where I go swimming
37%
I don't go far in the ocean
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
HAZARD PERCEPTION
2014–2019 PERCEPTION OF COASTAL HAZARDS 3%
Can’t say
Not very or not at all hazardous
4%
4%
3% 4%
13%
6%
4%
6%
4% 8%
13%
18% 26%
Extremely or very hazardous
Somewhat hazardous
3%
5%
17% 27%
33%
26%
21%
47%
75% 64%
57%
55%
56%
65%
36%
Rip currents
Tropical marine stingers
Waves
Other marine stinger creatures such as bluebottles
Sharks
Crocodiles
Sun exposure
2015–2019 HAZARD PERCEPTION OF SWIMMING/WADING FREQUENT VS OCCASIONAL PARTICIPANTS
Frequent
Occassional 48%
48% 43%
37%
14% 8%
Extremely or very hazardous
Somewhat hazardous
SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTR ALIA
ALMOST HALF OF COASTAL SWIMMERS/ WADERS DON’T BELIEVE IT IS A HAZARDOUS ACTIVITY
Not very or not at all hazardous
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
SAFET Y AWARE NE SS
2016–2019 HOW LIKELY ARE BEACHGOERS TO RESCUE SOMEONE WHO IS CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT?
2014–2019 HOW OFTEN DO SWIMMERS/WADERS LOOK FOR RIP CURRENTS BEFORE ENTERING THE WATER?
7%
2%
11%
42%
20%
45% ALWAYS LOOK FOR RIP CURRENTS
26%
7%
45%
Always Most of the time Sometimes Never Can’t say
42%
19%
VERY UNLIKELY TO RESCUE SOMEONE FROM A RIP CURRENT
22%
Very likely Somewhat likely Somewhat unlikely Very unlikely Can't say
2019 REASONS BEACHGOERS DON’T ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE PRESENCE OF RIP CURRENTS Depends upon the sea/water conditions
1%
I swim where other people swim
2%
I rely on rips signs on the beach
2%
I know the beach well/I know where the rips are Sometimes rips are hard to identify
3% 4%
No rips on my beach/where I go
5%
Calm water there/no surf
5%
I am a good swimmer
5%
Don't care/can't be bothered
5%
Other
6% 9%
I don't go far in the ocean
16%
Lazy/don't pay attention/forget
18%
I swim between the flags
27%
Don't know what to look for/can’t identify a rip
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
R I P I D E N T I F I C AT I O N
2014-2019 CONFIDENCE OF MALE AND FEMALE BEACHGOERS IN IDENTIFYING RIP CURRENTS Male Female
35%
33%
31% 26%
26% 21%
13% 6%
Very confident
5%
Somewhat confident
Not very confident
Not at all confident
2019 RIP IDENTIFICATION OF BEACHGOERS THAT SAY THEY ARE CONFIDENT
5%
33% OF FEMALES AND 21% OF MALES ARE NOT VERY CONFIDENT OR NOT AT ALL CONFIDENT IN IDENTIFYING RIP CURRENTS
Can't say
2016–2019 AUSTRALIAN ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT
Males
21% 28%
44%
CONFIDENT MALES COULD CORRECTLY IDENTIFY BOTH RIPS 35%
22%
Females
39%
22%
44%
ADULTS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A RIP 78%
33% Correct One correct Incorrect
Yes No
Survey participants were asked to identify a rip in two different images. Of the people who said they were very or somewhat confident in identifying rips, 44% of males and 39% of females could correctly identifying the rip in both images. One-third of both males (35%) and females (33%) could identify the rip in one of the images. More of the confident females (28%) were incorrect both times, compared to males (21%).
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
B E H AVI OU R A L FR A M E WO RK FOR KEY AUDIENCES Desired Behaviour Change 1. Swim between the red and yellow flags
CORE BEHAVIOUR
2. Learn how to identify rip currents
KEY SOURCES OF BEHAVIOUR 4
CAPABILITY (Knowledge and skills) Psychological
• Confidence in their swimming ability, based on: - previous ‘education’ (including informal guidance from parents) - a lifetime of experience in the water (despite varied levels) - surfing experience and ability - feel safe within the flags, or even just near them, if the lifeguards or lifesavers can see them, or if they are still standing or not going too far out • Many lack clarity regarding rip identification and different escape options (especially without assistance) • Some (e.g. recent migrants) lack detailed understanding of the risks of swimming in the ocean, especially what rips really are and how they work, and the importance of swimming between the flags
Physical
2/3 of swimmers don’t always swim/wade at patrolled locations, during patrolled hours
MOTIVATION (Brain processes that energise and direct behaviour) Reflective
Automatic
OPPORTUNITY (Factors outside the individual) Physical
Social
4. Learn how to escape a rip current
FACTORS
56% don’t always look for the presence of rips
1 in 5 Australians have been caught in a rip current unintentionally
3. Always check for the presence of rip currents
• Swimming competence affects level of caution taken and perceived risk • Limited actual experience, and (where tested recently) varied ability, in escaping a rip or treading water in difficult conditions • Desire to relax and have fun makes it harder for ‘safety’ messaging to appeal to or cut through to the target audience • Many assume they are safe enough if others are swimming nearby • Some prefer non-flag areas or unpatrolled beaches for a number of reasons, including: convenience, space and quiet • Behaviour is limited by certain attitudes (e.g. I am experienced, I am already aware of the rules/recommendations, and I can judge a safe spot)
• Safety-related behaviour is somewhat habitual, subconscious • Some (e.g. migrants) haven’t really thought about safety
• Some live or park further away from the flags • Some live further away from patrolled beaches
• There is a strong norm to swim between the flags, for most (although not for some more experienced surfers/swimmers) • Some follow their more experienced friends (e.g. in deciding whether it’s safe enough to go in, or when they swim further out) • Friends aren’t necessarily trusted or seen as experts on rips or ocean survival • Lifeguards/lifesavers are an important source of advice, in situ
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
K E Y TA R G E T S
Target Segmentation • Males 15-39 years • Australian and overseas born
WHO ARE THEY?
BEHAVIOUR
HOW DO WE TALK WITH THEM?4
The least confident or least experienced swimmers (including recent migrants)
This group tends to be reasonably cautious, once or if they are aware of the risks
Early awareness is critical among this group. They are relatively easily targeted as they are open to new information
Everyone in the middle
This group think they know enough and are doing enough, but this is not necessarily the case
Communications need to challenge this belief and show swimmers that they are not doing enough to be safe. If it is made clear enough to this group that they lack particular knowledge, they seem to listen
The most confident or experienced swimmers (including surfers)
This group takes more risks and is harder to convince to stay between the flags, as they think they are experienced enough not to need to. They are (or believe they are) better able to identify rips and (if caught) to escape
There is a need to challenge this group’s belief that they are knowledgeable and experienced enough by showing them situations where their knowledge is either lacking or inaccurate
ONCE YOU ARE EXPERIENCED ENOUGH, YOU KNOW HOW TO GET OUT.
I KNOW THERE IS DANGER, BUT I DON’T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.
IF IT LOOKS CALM, I’LL BE HAPPIER TO STAY AWAY FROM THE FLAGS.
Born overseas, male, 18–24 years old
Born overseas, male, 18–24 years old
Born in Australia, male, 25–34 years old
I AM MORE WORRIED ABOUT BEING BITTEN THAN DROWNING. IN A LARGE SWELL I KNOW I CAN SWIM OUT, BUT I CAN’T FIGHT OFF A SHARK. Born overseas, male, 18–24 years old
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
Surf Life Saving Australia implemented a five-year coastal safety campaign addressing rip current drowning which kicked off in 2016. The diagram to the right shows the five year national rip current awareness campaign.
2016-2020 SLSA COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY: NATIONAL RIP CURRENT CAMPAIGN
The first two years of the campaign focussed on busting some of the common misconceptions about rips, with the aim to create better awareness about rips. ‘The Facts About Rips Campaign’ challenged swimmer beliefs when it comes to their understanding of rips, their ability to identify a rip, their knowledge of what to do if caught in a rip and ultimately providing guidance on how to swim safe at the beach.
YEAR 1
Key facts include: • Rips are the #1 swimming hazard on Australia’s beaches, with an average of 21 people drowning per year as a result • 2 out of 3 people who said they could spot a rip, could not • Only 12% swimmers are very confident they could escape a rip without assistance • 73% of people who drowned in a rip current could stand or touch the bottom when they were caught in the current • Some people continue to swim outside the flags for a variety of reasons (unpatrolled beach, outside patrol hours, etc) • Over 4.2M Australians report they have been unintentionally caught in a rip current
YEAR 2
• State the facts about rips. • Challenge people’s perceptions of rips. • Challenge people’s rip identification knowledge. • Convey the message people don’t know what they think they know. • Sow the seeds of doubt.
AWA R E N E S S
YEAR 4
YEAR 3
YEAR 5
• Take awareness and changed perception to give clear directive of new behaviour that’s catchy and memorable. • Encourage consideration of beach conditions and rip current identification. • Stop. Look. Make a safe plan. • Continue messaging around swimming at patrolled beaches and between the red and yellow flags. • Harder hitting message to impact on behaviour change.
B E H AV I O U R C H A N G E
Successful outcomes of the first two years included an increased ability for people to correctly identify a rip, decreased over confidence of rip identification, as well as an increased awareness that coastal swimming can be hazardous. Based on the outcomes of this first phase, the second phase of the campaign was developed. Phase 2 aims to influence the behaviours of swimmers going to the beach and maintain awareness from Phase 1.
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
Phase 2, ‘The Think Line Campaign’ introduced the concept of a line in the sand where swimmers stop to check for rips before entering the water. Phase 2, years three to five, aims to influence the behaviours of beachgoers by urging them to always check for rips before entering the water. This phase of the campaign will continue to target young men as well as the wider community. The concept is applicable to other safety messages by encouraging coastal visitors to STOP. LOOK. PLAN:
Draw the line on Rips.
Stop. to check for rips Look. for other dangers Plan. how to stay safe Swim between the flags. If there’s no flags, only enter the water if you can do so safely, considering things like: • not swimming alone • knowing what to do if caught in a rip • observing safety signs • checking conditions Learn more about rips and other beach safety tips at www.beachsafe.org.au
#dontrisktherip
Stop. Look. Plan. Thousands of people are caught in rips every year, and too many of them drown. Before you cross the line, STOP to check for rips. LOOK for other dangers. PLAN how to stay safe.
Draw the line at beachsafe.org.au
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COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS
REFERENCES
Surf Life Saving Australia National Coastal Safety Report 2019 The Surf Life Saving Australia National Coastal Safety Report (NCSR) is published annually and contains information on Australian community behaviours and attitudes to the coast; SLS capability and membership capacity; rescues and emergency response; and coastal drowning deaths. The 2019 NCSR represents the statistics from the period of 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. Trend analyses from 2004-19 are also included. All care is taken to ensure the statistical information included within this report is correct. However, pending the outcome of ongoing coronial investigations and as SLS state/territory entities update their operational information, this data may be amended. Surf Life Saving Australia National Coastal Safety Surveys The annual Surf Life Saving Australia National Coastal Safety Surveys collect Information about community swimming ability, behaviours and attitudes to coastal safety. The survey is conducted by Newspoll Market Research and Omnipoll and is run online over a four-day period each April among a national sample of approximately 1,400 respondents aged 16 to 69. The study is carried out in compliance with ISO 20252 - Market, Social and Opinion Research. To reflect the population distribution, results were post-weighted (on age, gender, geographic strata and education) and projected to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Ipsos Social Research Institute Swimming and Wading Report 2016 The Ipsos Social Research Institute Swimming and Wading Report 2016 was a result of research comprised of two distinct methodological phases: a qualitative research component, followed by a quantitative research component. Both phases covered similar topic areas:
swimming attitudes and behaviours, risk perceptions and strategies, rip current identification and safety, information needs and sources, and interventions. The qualitative research also explored reactions to specific campaign concepts, and the qualitative findings helped to shape the subsequent questionnaire used in the quantitative component. The quantitative research phase was carried out from 6-27 November 2015. This component comprised an online survey of n=1,094 swimmers and waders, followed by comprehensive analysis of the data. Given the geographic spread of the Australian coastline, Ipsos SRI used a representative sample of Australian swimmers and waders, involving the application of non-interlocking quotas according to the following demographic characteristics: gender, age, state, and area. Weighting was then applied to the sample to ensure the representativeness of the data was maintained.
Page References
Data illustrated in figures may not always add up to 100% due to rounding.
Every attempt has been made to trace and acknowledge copyright, but in some cases this may not have been possible. Surf Life Saving Australia apologises for any accidental infringements and would welcome any information to redress the situation.
References R. Brander, D. Dominey-Howes, C. Champion, O. Del Vecchio, and B. Brighton (2013): “Brief Communication: A new perspective on the Australian rip current hazard” Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 13, 1687–1690, 2013. Ipsos Social Research Institute (2016) Swimming and Wading Report 2016. Ipsos: Sydney
1.
Reference: R. Brander et al. 2013
2.
SLSA National Coastal Safety Survey 2019
3. 4.
SLSA National Coastal Safety Report 2019
Ipsos Social Research Institute Swimming and Wading Report 2016
Data correct at 7 August 2019. Changes may occur at a later date. © 2019 Surf Life Saving Australia This publication is copyright. Except as expressly provided in the Copyright Act 1968 and the Copyright Amendment Act 2006, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted by any means (including electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission from Surf Life Saving Australia. For enquiries concerning reproduction, contact SLSA on: phone 02 9215 8000; email: info@slsa.asn.au
Acknowledgements Surf Life Saving Australia wishes to thank Frederic Anne (Omnipoll) for his contribution to this report.
Surf Life Saving Australia (2019) National Coastal Safety Report 2019. SLSA: Sydney. Surf Life Saving Australia National Coastal Safety Survey (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). Newspoll/Omnipoll Online Omnibus April 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
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Suggested Citation Cooney, N., Lawes, J., Daw, S. (2019) Coastal Safety Brief: Rip Currents. Surf Life Saving Australia: Sydney.
COASTAL SAFET Y BRIEF – RIP CURRENTS