Epidemiological study of drowning deaths in Rajkot, Gujarat

Drowning is a form of asphyxial death in which the access of air to the lungs is obstructed by the submersion of the body in the water or other fluid media. It is a tragedy that happens to many people each day all around the world. Thousands of innocent people drown every year because of lack of awareness of the hazards of water. They go into ponds and rivers without knowing their depth and by one fatal step they sink, never to rise again. Drowning is one of the most common causes of death in Saurashtra region of Gujarat and the incidences are increasing day by day. This study was undertaken with the aim to analyze the magnitude of drowning deaths and to provide epidemiological data, so the attention of health and administrative authorities can be drawn towards this neglected scenario of death. Total 100 cases of drowning death were selected for the study during the span of two-year (From Nov. 2004 to Oct. 2006), and every effort was made to collect all the epidemiological data with a detailed autopsy examination.