Drowning and near-drowning in the Australian Capital Territory: a five-year total population study of immersion accidents.

A total population study of all serious immersion accidents is reported from the Australian Capital Territory. The annual immersion accident rate of 4-69 per 100,000 of the population at risk is low, and the fresh water fatality rate of 2-58 per 100,000 is very low. The annual fatality rate for childhood swimming pool accidents is 0-34 per 100,000 children (that is, under 16 years of age) at risk. Serious immersion accidents are not increasing in frequency, in striking contrast to the epidemic trends seen from other centres. Factors which might explain this are discussed.