Lifesaving SA: More research needed into non-fatal drownings
Lifesaving SA says as the country moves closer to rolling out the National Health Insurance, research into non-fatal drownings is essential, now more than ever.
The organisation's Colleen Saunders has been speaking about the financial impact of drownings and the burden they have placed on the group.
She says they need to work with other sectors to find cost-effective solutions.
Ninety percent of global drownings are reported in South Africa.
READ: SA accounts for 90% of global drowning deaths – NSRI
Saunders spoke during a webinar on Tuesday to mark World Drowning Prevention Day.
"As we work towards the National Health Insurance funding model, understanding that the burden of drowning and what the financial impacts are of the care of drowning victims, both fatal and non-fatal, becomes very important.
"I think if we start to understand those financial and economic impacts, we will see that the burden of drowning is actually much larger than the 1 400 or 1 500 fatal drowning every year."
