Bergin, M.

Connolly, John

Denieffe, S.

Wells, John S.G., Ph.D.

English

Bowling Green State University: ScholarWorks@BGSU

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education Volume 11 Number 2 The Lifesaving Foundation Conference 2018 Booklet of Abstracts Article 3 10-22-2018 Narratives of Drowning - Exploring Family and Community Resilience John S.G. Wells Ph.D. Waterford Institute of Technology (W.I.T.) (Ireland) M. Bergin John Connolly S. Denieffe Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare  Part of the Exercise Physiology Commons, Exercise Science Commons, Health and Physical Education Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Outdoor Education Commons, Recreation Business Commons, Sports Management Commons, Sports Sciences Commons, Sports Studies Commons, and the Tourism and Travel Commons Recommended Citation Wells, John S.G. Ph.D.; Bergin, M.; Connolly, John; and Denieffe, S. (2018) "Narratives of Drowning - Exploring Family and Community Resilience," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 11 : No. 2 , Article 3. DOI: 10.25035/ijare.11.02.03 Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol11/iss2/3 This Abstract is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at ScholarWorks@BGSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@BGSU. Narratives of Drowning: Exploring Family and Community Resilience Wells, JSG1, Bergin M1, Connolly J2, Denieffe S.1 (Ireland) 1 Waterford Institute of Technology, 2 Lifesaving Foundation JSWELLS@wit.ie  Background Within Ireland the last significant attempt to examine drowning covered the period 2000 to 2006. This research (Connolly, 2006) focused on rescue incidents carried out by An Garda Síochána rather than drowning per se, overall rescue or failure to rescue.  It is notable that most of the research on drowning focuses on the process of drowning and the process of effective rescue. Less attention is paid to the impact an incident of drowning has on other significant stakeholders, particularly families and local communities, and their support needs at a local level. This is a particular issue for local police (Gardaí) and local volunteer rescuers (such as Community Rescue Boats volunteers) who are often the first responders to a drowning incident (Connolly, 2006) and who live in local communities and do have to support and engage with the local community and family subsequent to the incident. As a result they are situated to have a unique insight into the medium and long terms issues that might arise for families and communities, how they are dealt with by agencies and how approaches could be improved.  This paper therefore explores a gap in the literature relating to the support needs of families and local communities following an incident of drowning. We have focused on ‘death by water’ as this happens in rivers, rather than at sea or by the coast.  The aim is to explore the impact of incidents of death by water in rivers on families and communities and the nature of the support issues that may arise when engaging with such families and communities as perceived by members of the Gardaí and members of the Community Rescue Boats Ireland organisation. Method One to one in-depth interviews were conducted with members of river search and rescue and retired members of An Garda Síochána. Thematic analysis was used to explore the narrative interviews. Results Demographic Information  The sample (n =12) included six Gardai (2 divers/ 3 Garda sergeants / 1 Senior Garda) and six River Search and Rescue members. Ages ranged from 30 – 70 years. Participant experience involved in Search and Rescue ranged from 10 – 37 years. All interviewed were male. The range of deaths from drowning for the sample was between 9 – 200 deaths.    1Wells et al.: Drowning Rescue NarrativesPublished by ScholarWorks@BGSU, 2018Discussion Emergent Themes ‘Sense of Belonging’  • Diverse communities were served by those in the sample: community identity was a source of support in cases of drowning when the person affected ‘belonged’ to the community.   • Community retrospective valuing of the services, particularly as this related to fund raising was also identified. Supporting and ‘Telling Them as It Is’  • Families wanted to be involved as a search progressed. Formal official agencies were a form of limited support.   • Informal supports from local community were more noticeable in rural setting than in larger towns/ cities, particularly when the person who drowned was known to the community.  • There was an evident need for ongoing support, particularly as this related to the traumatic processes associated with inquests into death by drowning. • The need for closure was also identified and the concepts of ‘bringing someone home’ to allow a ‘sigh of relief’ for both the family and community was regularly expressed by the sample. The potential positive impact of social media in terms of progressing searches was also highlighted. Challenges  Interrelated Triad:  Individual – Local – National    • Availability of training for those supporting families/ community is essential - ‘more than the family affected’ • Co-ordination of existing services needs to be improved with greater emphasis on interagency collaboration as this relates to supporting both the family and community. • Disparity across the country in terms of services provided  • On-going support for families, particularly for inquest.  • National Standards are needed Connolly, J. (2006). http://lifesavingfoundation.ie/files/3413/2379/6563/suicidebydrowninirewwsc.pdf  Prof John Wells is Head of the School of Health Sciences at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). He is a Visiting Professor in Nursing at King’s College, University of London, a Visiting Professor in Mental Health and Social Integration at the University of Lincoln, and a Visiting Professor in Nursing at the University of Maribor, Slovenia. He trained as a mental health nurse, held a number of clinical and management positions in mental health services including Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Community Mental Health, and Acute Psychiatric 2International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, Vol. 11, No. 2 [2018], Art. 3https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol11/iss2/3DOI: 10.25035/ijare.11.02.03Admissions in London. He took up his first academic appointment in 1991 as a lecturer in mental health nursing at the Maudsley Hospital School of Nursing, moved to King’s College, University of London, where he remained until 1998 when he moved to Ireland.  Dr Michael Bergin RPN, RGN, BSc (Hons), MMedSc, PhD is Head of Department of Applied Arts, School of Humanities, WIT. He holds degrees from the School of Health and Social Care, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, UK (PhD); University College Dublin (M.MedSc) and University College Cork (BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology and Nursing). Dr Suzanne Denieffe RPN, RGN, PhD is Head of the School of Humanities since April 2018. Prior to that she was Head of Department of Nursing and Health Care. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Nursing and an MSc in Nursing (Education and Research) from University College Dublin and a PhD from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. John Connolly is the honorary Company Secretary of the Irish registered charity The Lifesaving Foundation. He is a retired primary school Principal Teacher. Between 1977 and 2004 he was elected to the Branch Executive of RLSS IRELAND as Branch Water Safety Officer, Branch Technical Officer, Chief Examiner, Branch Secretary and Branch President. He was Director of Ireland’s Lifeguard School for 15 years during which he established a voluntary week-end beach lifeguard service at Dunmore East, Co. Waterford (1979) and Bonmahon Lifeguard Club (1984). He worked as a professional pool lifeguard and as a voluntary surf lifeguard for 30 years during which he rescued over 100 persons from drowning. He is the recipient of many awards and honours which include the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Award (2003), the Australian Surgeon General’s Medal (2007), and the Dutch Medal of Honour 2017 (250th anniversary Maatschappij tot Redding van Drenkelingen). 3Wells et al.: Drowning Rescue NarrativesPublished by ScholarWorks@BGSU, 2018

Narratives of Drowning - Exploring Family and Community Resilience

https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1470&amp;context=ijare

Narratives of Drowning - Exploring Family and Community Resilience

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Bowling Green State University: ScholarWorks@BGSU