Dr. Will Koon is a beach Lifeguard from California who recently completed a dissertation titled "Expanding the Evidence Base for Coastal Drowning Prevention". Will currently works as the National Manager of Drowning Prevention Strategy for Royal Lifesaving Australia.

Drowning is recognized as one of the leading causes of accidental death internationally and we have little data to be able to direct the needed behavior changes to prevent it. Drowning is defined as "the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid" and has outcomes of being fatal, non-fatal, and non-fatal with morbidity (lasting health effects). Simply put it is a preventable process, and much more complex than most people realize.

Will and I discuss drowning as a world issue, gaps in the data, studies about surfers and their involvement in the drowning space, prevention measures, lifeguarding, and much more!

Thank you for listening! If you would like to see more please go to:

thelifeguardproject.org

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