International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education Volume 5 Number 3 Article 7 8-1-2011 Drowning Deaths in the Nearshore Marine Waters of the Island of Kauai, Hawaii 1970-2009 Charles Troy Blay TEOK Investigations,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare Recommended Citation Blay, Charles Troy (2011) "Drowning Deaths in the Nearshore Marine Waters of the Island of Kauai, Hawaii 1970-2009," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 5 : No. 3 , Article 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.05.03.07 Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol5/iss3/7 This Research Article 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. Blay: Drowning Deaths in the Nearshore Marine Waters of the Island of K International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 2011, 5, 284-324 © 2011 Human Kinetics, Inc. Drowning Deaths in the Nearshore Marine Waters of Kauai, Hawaii 1970-2009 Charles Troy Blay Drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury death on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Steep submarine slopes, large waves, and variable coastlines combine to create hazardous conditions year round. Most victims (3/4) have been visitors (avg. age 46.2 years; 85% male), dying at more than 40 coastal locali- ties. From 1970 to 2009, 300 people died at the island’s coastline, the death rate increasing from 5.5/yr (1970–79) to 10.1/yr (2000–09).