Queenslandon

Introduction: This study examined all known diving-related fatalities in Queensland, Australia, from 2000 to 2019 to determine likely causes and potential countermeasures. Methods: Data were extracted from the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation fatality database, including previously published reports. The National Coronial Information System was searched to identify diving-related deaths in Queensland for 2014-2019 and data were extracted, analysed, and combined with previously published data covering the period 2000-2013. Descriptive statistics and parametric and non-parametric tests were used to analyse these data. Results: There were 166 snorkelling and 41 scuba victims identified with median ages of 59 and 49 years respectively, and 83% of snorkel and 64% of scuba victims were males. One quarter of snorkel and 40% of scuba victims were obese. Two-thirds of the snorkellers and three quarters of scuba divers were overseas tourists. Contributory predisposing health conditions were identified in 61% of snorkel and 50% of scuba victims. Nine scuba victims died on their first dive. Conclusions: The increase in snorkelling deaths likely reflects increased participation, higher age, and poorer health. The main disabling condition in both cohorts was cardiac-related. Pre-existing health conditions, poor skills, inexperience, poor planning, supervision shortcomings and lack of effective buddy systems featured in both cohorts, and apnoeic hypoxia in breath-hold divers. Suggested countermeasures include improved education on the importance of health and fitness for safe diving and snorkelling, increased emphasis on an honest and accurate pre-activity health declaration and subsequent implementation of appropriate risk mitigation strategies, improved supervision, better buddy pairing, and on-going education on the hazards of extended apnoea.

Despite decades of strategic intervention, Queensland's suicide rates exceed both national and global rates. This is surely an indicator that not enough is being done to address this cause of death. The authors suggest that this problem may be addressed, in part, by provision of improved suicide awareness training for nurses. The purpose of this review was to support this through examination of the contemporary status of suicide awareness training in Queensland nurses, the efficacy of suicide awareness training in general, and the experiences of nurses, other health professionals, and suicidal patients in healthcare settings. We concluded that while efficacious, suicide awareness training in Queensland nurses is presently inadequate, and that both nurses and patients may benefit from improved suicide awareness training.

In September 2021, a household cluster of three typhoid cases was investigated by Queensland public health authorities. Through case interviews and molecular typing, the investigation revealed chronic carriage of Salmonella Typhi persisting at least 12 years in the index case. This case report summarises the investigation and highlights the complexity of chronic pathogen carriage in the control and management of typhoid disease. Our findings raise considerations for prevention and treatment guidelines in Australia and demonstrate the beneficial role of molecular typing for complex case investigations.