The Waterford International Drowning Prevention Conference June 2023
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
The conference ‘in-person’ fee is €350. The fee includes meals from Tuesday to Thursday.
Presenters can reduce the €350 fee by €50 for each day they present to a €100 maximum.
Hotel accommodation is separate. The Tower Hotel, Waterford City, is the conference base.
The Bed & Breakfast Conference Rate is €120 per night single and €130 per night two sharing.
https://www.towerhotelwaterford.com
The conference fee is paid to the Foundation and the accommodation fee to the hotel.
Most events will be streamed live online to those who register as ‘online participants’.
The on-line fee is €160, paid to the Foundation.
https://www.lifesavingfoundation.ie/
Monday, 5th June, 2023 - Arrival Day
Tower Hotel, The Mall, Waterford.
Evening meeting of Tuesday’s master class presenters.
Informal night gathering of conference participants in hotel.
Tuesday 6th June: Day One
South East Technological University,
Main Campus, Cork Road, Waterford.
9.00am Drowning Prevention Research Master Class
Leaders: Professor Richard Franklin PhD (Australia) & Dr Amy Peden PhD (Australia)
Other Presenters:
Professor Joost Bierens MD. PhD (Netherlands), Professor John Wells PhD (Ireland),
A/Professor Ogilvie Thom MD (Australia), Professor Linda Quan MD (USA).
A short break will be inserted in an appropriate place in the timetable.
3.00pm Refreshment Break
3.30pm Ireland Medal Presentation Ceremony
The 2022 Ireland Medal will be presented to Elizabeth ‘Tizzy’ Bennett (USA)
by Eugene Clonan, Director, Irish Coast Guard.
The Irish Coast Guard celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2022.
4.30pm Presentation of the 2022 Surgeon Admiral Frank Golden Student Research
Prize & Merit Award recipients by Professor Martin Barwood PhD.
8.30pm Dinner in Tower Hotel.
Wednesday 7th June: Day Two
Tower Hotel, The Mall, Waterford
9.00am Morning Theme:The Prevention of Child Drownings 3.5 hours
1. Key Presenter: Elizabeth ‘Tizzy’ Bennett (USA)
“Child and Adolescent Drowning Prevention: What we say versus what we know”
2. Léa Mekkaoui, University of Lille (France)
“Aquatic Literacy For All Children (ALFAC Research Project)”
3. Angela Beale-Tawfeeq (USA), American Red Cross Research Project
”Evaluation of Water Competency Skill Attainment for Young Children”
4. Connie Harvey (USA), American Red Cross Research Project
“Barriers to Participation in Swim Lessons in the USA”
5. Melon Dash (USA):
“Make Learning to Swim & Comfort in Deep Water Easy for Every Person”
2.00pm Afternoon Theme: National Drowning Prevention Plans 3.5 hours
1. Key Presenter: Professor Linda Quan MD (USA)
2. Roger Sweeney (Water Safety Ireland)
“Measuring Success”
3. David Walker (UK)
“UK Water Incident Database WAID”
4. Joost Bierens MD, PhD (The Netherlands)
“An update of opportunities and barriers for a national
drowning registration in the Netherland.”
5. Daniel Gerrard (New Zealand), CEO Water Safety New Zealand
“Navigating to a Safer Future”
6. Prof Richard Franklin PhD (Australia)
“National or local plans or both”
8.30pm Dinner in a restaurant.
Thursday 8th June: Day Three
Tower Hotel, The Mall, Waterford.
9.00am General Topics: Drowning Prevention
1. Key Presenter: Professor Martin Barwood PhD (UK)
2. Nicola Johnston (SA & UK)
‘Defining and Characterising Environmental Risk Factors in UK Drownings’.
3. Andrea Andrews (United Kingdom):
“Accidentally stepping off a ledge into deep water”
4. The winner of the Surgeon Admiral Frank Golden Student Research Prize
5. Will Koon (USA):
“Advancing the evidence base for the prevention of coastal drowning”
6. Invited student Merit Award presentations
12.00pm DROWNING RESEARCH GATHERING
This is a gathering of students and other persons currently involved in drowning research.
Those present will outline their projects followed by discussion.
2.00pm RIVER CRUISE & PRESENTATION CEREMONY
River cruise from Waterford City to New Ross.
Royal Humane Society presentation ceremony to New Ross Hogan family
on board the emigrant replica ship Dunbrody.
Coach return to Waterford City.
Dinner