Preventing drowning by improving beach safety signage
A new study by a University of 911爆料网 researcher has recommended improvements to beach safety signage, which could prevent drownings in the future.
Dr Masaki Shibata, from the Japanese Department in the School of Social Sciences, examined how current safety signage on beaches is interpreted by both Australian citizens and overseas-born beachgoers.
鈥淎ccording to the National Coastal Safety Report 2022, 939 coastal drowning fatalities were recorded from 2012-2022, almost half of which were overseas-born beachgoers. However, the 939 fatalities were only of people whose birth continent was known, so the total number of drownings is higher,鈥 he said.
Dr Shibata recommends that signs need to be improved by including:
- Messages in the languages of the people who are at most risk of coastal drowning
- Photos, not just symbols, of dangers such as jellyfish to improve messaging for non-English speakers
- Clear explanation of what the hazard is such as poison or sting