ArticleHealth promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals2025
Measuring the Swimming Skills of Adults Attending Swimming Lessons in Australia as a Drowning Prevention Measure.
Article in Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Evidence-based drowning prevention in older adults: a rapid review and Haddon's matrix.Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention · 2026Article
- Trends in Unintentional Drowning Mortality Among U.S. Adults Aged ≥25 Years, 1999-2024: A U.S. Surveillance Analysis.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
introductionSwimming and water safety skills are essential for reducing drowning. Swimming and water safety programs primarily focus on children, despite adults accounting for over 80% of fatal drowning in Australia. This study aims to identify types of adult swimming programs in Australia, who attends these programs, and measure their swimming skill achievement against national benchmarks.
methodsA retrospective cross-sectional study of adults attending swimming programs between 2018 and 2021 was conducted. Participant assessment records were analysed against the [Australian] National Swimming and Water Safety Framework and national benchmarks to be achieved by 6 and 12 years old. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis were undertaken.
resultsOf 4914 adults attending swimming lessons, 44% were female, median age was 38 years, and 40% were from high socioeconomic areas. On average, adults attended nine lessons, averaging 4.5 h in the water. At their final assessment, 69% could swim at least 5 m (6-year-old benchmark), and 8% could swim 50 m continuously (12-year-old benchmark).
conclusionsAdults of all ages are learning to swim; however, only 8% are achieving the 12-year-old benchmark of swimming 50 m. An equity issue exists, with adults from lower socioeconomic areas and men less likely to be attending swimming programs. Developing and maintaining water safety skills throughout the lifespan is vital for reducing drowning risk among adults. SO WHAT?: Adults are spending time, money and effort learning to swim, however, more is needed to ensure that participants stay in lessons long enough to develop the necessary skills needed to be safe in the water.
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