Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (Mar 2013)
Compliance with an Ordinance Requiring the Use of Personal Flotation Devices by Children in Public Waterways
Abstract
Introduction: For children ages 1-14, 21.6% of drowning cases involve swimming, wading, orplaying in natural bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) arebelieved to be an effective prevention measure. We measure compliance with city and countyordinances, publicized but not actively enforced, requiring that PFDs be worn by children accessingpublic bodies of water in Sacramento County, California.Methods: During June-August 2010, volunteers conducted 79 observation sessions at threepopular local river beaches where PFDs were available for use at no cost. They recorded personalcharacteristics and PFD use for 1,727 children in or very near the water and believed to be 0-13years of age (the age covered by the ordinances). We used logistic regression to quantify differencesin use by subject characteristics and study site.Results: The prevalence of PFD use was 29.9% overall, with large and significant differencesby age: < 1, 55.6%; 1-4, 37.6%; 5-10, 29.4%; 10-13, 14.6%; P < 0.0001. Usage did not varysignificantly by sex or race/ethnicity, and was somewhat higher at one study site (33.1%) than at theothers (25.9% and 27.3%), P = 0.009.Conclusion: The combination of a statutory requirement and a cost-elimination strategy wasassociated with moderate rates of PFD use that were highest among young children.
