United States (New York), 1988–94; Browne et al, 20032 | All unintentional drownings | n = 214 | Death within 6 hours; blood taken with 24 hours of death |
Persons ⩾15 years; “swimming” | More than zero | 49% |
| | >0.05 | 40% | Available for 111 (52%) |
| | >0.10 | 35% | |
United States (California), 1974–85; Wintemute et al, 198832 | All drownings | n = 73 | Death within 6 hours; blood taken with 24 hours of death |
Persons ⩾20 years; “swimming, wading, diving” | More than zero | 63% | Available for 40 (55%) |
>0.05 | 55% |
>0.10 | 40% |
Canada, 1999; Canadian Red Cross Society, 200033 | All drowning deaths | n = 58 | “Blood testing”—no more details |
Persons ⩾15 years; “recreational swimming” | More than zero | 63% | Available for 40 (69%) |
>0.08 | 53% | |
United States (Maryland), 1968–72; Dietz and Baker 197434 | “Accidental” drownings | n = ? (total number not known) | “Blood tests”; body submerged less than 12 hours |
Persons ⩾15 years; “swimming” | More than zero | 79% |
| >0.10 | 64% | Available for 14 (unknown %) |
| >0.15 | 50% | |
Australia (Geelong), 1959–83; Plueckhahn, 198436 | “Accidental” drownings | n = ? (total number not known) | “Valid” blood alcohol levels in autopsy blood sample |
Persons ⩾15 years; “swimming or surfing” | More than zero | 37% |
⩾0.08 | 16% | Available for 43 (unknown % of swimming deaths, but available for 61% of all drownings) |
⩾0.15 | 16% |
Australia (Geelong), 1967–71; Plueckhahn, 197235 | “Accidental” drownings | n = ? (total number not known) | “Valid” blood alcohol levels in autopsy blood sample |
Persons ⩾16 years; “swimming, etc” | More than zero | 43% |
⩾0.08 | 36% | Available for 14 (unknown % of swimming deaths, but available for 69% of all drownings) |
⩾0.15 | 36% |
South Africa (Cape Town), 1980–83; Davis and Smith, 198537 | All drownings | n = 87 | Alcohol present in autopsy blood sample |
Persons ⩾16 years; “swimming” | More than zero | 55% | Available for 87 (100%) |
United States (North Carolina), 1980–84; Patetta and Biddinger, 198838 | Unintentional drownings | n = ? (total number not known) | Alcohol present in autopsy blood sample |
Persons ⩾15 years; “swimming and wading” | >0.10 | >20% | Available for an unknown % of swimming deaths, but for 87% of all drownings |
United States (army soldiers), 1980–97; Bell et al, 20013 | Non-intentional drownings | n = 352 | Alcohol information obtained from investigative reports. No blood alcohol values presented. |
Active male soldiers ⩾18 years; 83% associated with recreation, particularly swimming (40%), boating (15%) and diving (6%) | “Contributed” to 31% of all cases, and 58% of cases with information on blood alcohol | | Available for 187 (53%) |
Denmark, 1989–93; Steensberg, 199839 | “Accidental” drowning deaths | n = 33 | Information on alcohol involvement from the death certificate summary Available for an unknown % of swimming deaths |
Persons ⩾15 years; “bathing or swimming” | “Under the influence” | 36% |