The incidence of inflatable rescue boat injuries in Queensland surf lifesavers.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the current incidence of serious injuries in Queensland surf lifesavers related to inflatable rescue boat (IRB) use, and to describe the nature of the injuries.

DESIGN

Descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS AND

SETTING

The 3050 members of Queensland's 57 surf life saving clubs who drove or crewed an IRB in Queensland between July 1997 and June 1998.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of serious IRB-related injuries that resulted in claims for workers compensation in 1997-1998, and type and anatomical location of injury.

RESULTS

Thirty-six IRB-related injuries were lodged with WorkCover Queensland by surf lifesavers during 1997-1998, giving an estimated crude incidence of 1.2%. Sixty-one per cent of injuries affected the right side of the body; two-thirds of these involved the knee, leg and ankle. IRB injuries occurred most often during patrol duty (39% of cases) and it was usually the crewperson (86% of cases) who was injured. Fracture and fracture-dislocations constituted a third of the injuries, with 75% occurring in the right leg and ankle.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the known incomplete reporting of these injuries, our findings suggest that IRB-related injury caused substantial morbidity among volunteer surf lifesavers. The pattern of injuries suggests biomechanically preventable causes.