Bas Kolen

Summary and Recommendations

Most sections in this book address one specific audience, such as prevention agencies, public health authorities, rescue workers, members of multidisciplinary prehospital emergency teams, hospital clinicians or accident investigators. All these audiences may be confronted with drowning victims as result of water-related disasters, which is the topic of this section. During the preparations for the first World Congress on Drowning in 2002, the interest in and expertise on flooding and other water-related disasters were limited. Since then, several large water-related disasters have occurred and the issue is now on many agendas. Nowadays more and more people live in urbanised flood-prone areas. Many efforts are underway to improve prevention, so the number of citizens, life savers, emergency managers and decision-makers that have to cope with possible flooding and the risk of drowning is increasing.

Future Research Questions

By 2012 almost half of the world lives in river deltas, which are the most vulnerable areas for flooding. During the next decades, measures are needed to prevent, mitigate and respond to floods and to decrease the risk for drowning. This can be done by a reduction of the probability of water related disasters as well as by a reduction of the consequences of a water related disaster. A better reponse of emergency services and rescue units can be an strategic asset in this including to reduce the numbers of drownings, especially in these areas.