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Educating Children on Water Safety for Drowning Prevention

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Abstract

Drowning is accepted as one of the most leading causes of unintentional injuries and a leading unintentional cause of injury-related deaths in many countries as well as in Turkey. We conducted a water safety education programme among secondary school children aged between 10 and 14 years to test an active measure. Children were trained about seven subjects from American Red Cross Longfellow’s WHALE Tales program and on lifeline throw (LT). Pre- and post-tests were used to collect data which was used for statistical analyses. Results showed a significant increase in knowledge (32 %) and in LT (476.2 %) (p < 0.05). Among sub-groups’ of independent variables except “city” and “gender”, no significant differences were found. An active approach for drowning prevention was tested by this study and according to our findings; we conclude that such a water safety education programme can help increasing knowledge and safe lifesaving skills of children.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Administration Unit of Akdeniz University. Furthermore, we would like to thank to all the students and directors of the schools (“Tarim Isletmesi Ortaokulu” and “Gazi Atatürk Ortaokulu” in Polatli, Ankara) and (“Calkaya 75. Yıl Cumhuriyet Ortaokulu” in Aksu, Antalya) for their participation and support, and particularly the physical education teachers Mehmet OZCAN and Gulcan SEVINC for their cooperation and support during education programme and tests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University in Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord Haus Nr.10, 44801, Bochum, Germany

    Tevfik Turgut

  2. Physical Education and Sports Department, Gazi University in Ankara, Gazi Üniversitesi, Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Yüksekokulu, Rekreasyon Bölümü, Abant Sokak No: 12 Yenimahalle, Ankara, Turkey

    Metin Yaman

  3. School of Physical Education and Sports at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Yüksekokulu, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Yerleşke, 07058, Antalya, Turkey

    Adnan Turgut

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  1. Tevfik Turgut
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Correspondence to Tevfik Turgut.

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This paper is based on the corresponding author’s doctoral dissertation entitled “A study on water safety education for children for drowning prevention” under “Physical Education and Sport” department in the Institute of Health Sciences at Gazi University in Ankara.

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Turgut, T., Yaman, M. & Turgut, A. Educating Children on Water Safety for Drowning Prevention. Soc Indic Res 129, 787–801 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-1109-0

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