UNITED STATES UNDERWATER FATALITY STATISTICS - 1973

During 1972 a survey of diving accidents involving U.S. citizens was undertaken. Comparisons are made for the data acquired for the four years 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973. In general, no large changes in accident patterns were detected in 1973. The total of 147 fatal accidents (123 compressed air, 24 skin diving) is only slightly higher than 1971 and 1972 totals. Geographic distribution of the fatalities is also similar with past years, with Florida and California contributing almost half the victims. Weather factors were found to contribute to about 25% of the accidents. Of the 49 autopsies, most showed 'drowning' as the cause of death. No serious equipment problems were detected and relatively few of the accidents were equipment caused.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored in part by Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. Underwater Safety Projects Office. Report on Scuba Safety project. See also report dated Dec 73, COM-74-50342 and report dated Apr 76, PB-279 992.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Rhode Island, Narragansett

  Narragansett, RI  United States  02882

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  6010 Executive Boulevard
  Rockville, MD  United States  20852

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Authors:
  • Schenck, H V
  • McAniff, J J
• Publication Date: 1975-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 59 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Casualties; Crash investigation; Crashes; Divers; Fatalities; Statistics
• Old TRIS Terms: Underwater swimmers
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00176041
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: URI-SSR-75-9, NOAA-78030604
• Contract Numbers: NOAA-04-3-158-31
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Jul 19 2002 12:00AM