An An investigation of drowning deaths in rowing practice in Sung Men District, Phrae Province

Abstract

 The Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 1 Chiangmai (ODPC 1) received a report from Phrae Provincial Health Office on October 6, 2022, concerning an accident, which 2 persons dead from a rowing boat flipped over during an exercise in Yom River, Wiang Thong Subdistrict,Sung Men District. The investigation team aimed to scrutinize a cause of the incident, to describe epidemiological event, to identify possible risk factors, and to provide accident preventive measures. A descriptive study was designed to interview witnesses and the forensic physician, and to review death reports. The survey started from assessing level of water and its velocity. The investigation inspected the boat wreck and interviewed the boat owners. Haddon’s matrix was used to identify risk factors of death. The results found that the rowboat accident occurred on October 2, 2022, which there were 11 rowers practiced padding in the river, before the boat capsized. No one had worn a life jacket. They tried to hold the turnover boat and bring it to the river bank, where water turbulence was interrupting. The rowers and the boat smashed a bridge pier footer and ruptured into two pieces, resulting in two had drowned to dead and two injured. No standby rescues or lifeguard team on that exercise day whilst the water was 4 meters depth and rough current on the day. We concluded that possible risk factors of this accident were due to an unstable afloat condition of the rowboat, an increase in water level, lack of safety equipment, and without a safety measure scheme. Recommendations from the investigation suggested implementing standardized safety guidelines for rowing and strictly following them will help reduce future losses.