Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr Will Koon

Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr Will Koon

EPISODE NOTES June 1, 2026: Dr Will Koon: Beyond Warning Signs: Rethinking Drowning Prevention in Hawaiʻi Dr. Will Koon is a drowning prevention researcher with Royal Life Saving Australia [https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/] whose work focuses on understanding who is drowning, why they are drowning, and how communities can reduce risk through better data and targeted interventions. He has been involved in Australia's National Water Safety Strategy and is part of a broader effort that has helped drive significant reductions in drowning over the past two decades. What makes Dr. Koon's perspective particularly valuable is his emphasis on systems thinking. Rather than focusing solely on hazards or education, he examines how data, behavior, policy, tourism, lifeguard services, and community partnerships work together to influence drowning risk. One of his central messages is that effective drowning prevention is not simply about warning people about hazards it is about preparing people and systems before they encounter risk. What If We've Been Asking the Wrong Question? For years, water safety efforts have focused on warning people about hazards. But a recent discussion with international experts suggests a different approach: instead of asking how we warn people, we should be asking how we prepare people and systems before they ever encounter risk. Effective prevention requires understanding who is drowning, where, when, and why, and then designing solutions that fit those specific risks.The Data Challenge.  Another major theme was data. While Hawaiʻi's drowning rate is among the highest in the United States, participants noted that the numbers we typically discuss only tell part of the story. Non-fatal drowning incidents may outnumber fatal drownings many times over, yet these events are often poorly tracked despite their significant physical, emotional, and financial impacts. The discussion also highlighted a challenge unique to Hawaiʻi. Nearly half of drowning deaths involve visitors, and snorkeling fatalities are heavily concentrated among tourists.Drowning Is a Systems Problem. The group repeatedly returned to the idea that drowning is a systems problem, not simply an individual problem. Australia's progress in reducing childhood drownings has been attributed to multiple strategies working together: pool fencing, parent education, supervision campaigns, early water familiarization, public awareness, and policy changes.Building Water Competence. The discussion also examined Junior Lifeguard programs and water competence education. Creating a Culture of Safety. Experts suggested that meaningful progress may come not from more warnings but from creating social norms around safe behavior. Perhaps the most important takeaway was that drowning prevention is not primarily about responding to emergencies. It is about creating conditions that prevent emergencies from occurring in the first place. But the strongest lesson from this discussion is that drowning prevention begins long before anyone enters the water. The question is no longer:How do we teach water safety?The question is:How do we make water safety part of who we are, not just something we teach? Hawaiʻi is surrounded by water. The ocean is where we play, work, gather, celebrate, and connect. If that's true, then water safety can't be an add-on. It must become part of our culture.Because lasting change will not come from a single program, sign, or safety message.It [http://message.It] will come when understanding the ocean, respecting its power, and making safe choices around water become part of everyday life in Hawaiʻi. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety [https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety]

Deep Dive: An Interview with David and Tia Samuel

EPISODE NOTES David and Tia Samuel In this episode of Deep Dive into Water Safety, Margaret Wright speaks with David and Tia Samuel from Brighton, England, about how surf lifesaving, family involvement, and early education are changing the way communities approach drowning prevention. David shares how Brighton Surf Life Saving Club grew into a major volunteer-driven organization and explains the success of their innovative “Sandhoppers” program, which teaches children ages 5–7 water confidence and safety skills alongside their parents. Tia discusses her journey from youth surf lifesaving to becoming an RNLI lifeguard, highlighting the importance of creating opportunities for young women in lifesaving and emergency response. The conversation explores CPR training, community response systems, school-based water safety education, and the need for stronger public messaging for residents and tourists. The episode also compares Hawaii’s ongoing drowning prevention challenges with successful international models from the UK, emphasizing that drowning is preventable through education, collaboration, and building a lifelong respect for the ocean. David and Tia bring practical ideas, real-world experience, and an inspiring perspective on how communities can create a stronger culture of water safety for future generations. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety [https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety]

Deep Dive: An Interview with Robin Baird

EPISODE NOTES March 3, 2026: Robin Baird, PhD Marine Mammal Researcher Robin Baird is a marine biologist with the Cascadia Research Collective who has been studying dolphins and whales in Hawaiian waters since 1999. During this interview, he discussed how little scientific information previously existed about many nearshore species in Hawaiʻi and how long‑term research has helped improve understanding of marine mammal populations, behavior, and conservation needs. The interview explored human impacts on marine mammals and how people can interact responsibly with wildlife in the ocean. He has authored The Lives of Hawai'is Dolphins and Whales natural History and Conservation   The conversation explored how marine mammals are studied, the pressures they face from human activity, and how ocean users including paddlers, swimmers, and tour operators can interact responsibly with wildlife. The interview also highlighted the importance of translating scientific knowledge into practical awareness for the public. Human Impacts on Marine Mammals ·       Boat traffic and vessel disturbance. ·       Noise pollution in the ocean environment. ·       Fishing interactions and entanglement risks. ·       Increasing human activity in nearshore habitats. Responsible Ocean Behavior ·       Maintain respectful distances from dolphins and whales. ·       Avoid chasing or attempting to closely approach marine mammals. ·       Allow animals to control the interaction if they approach. ·       Follow federal marine mammal protection guidelines. Key Takeaways ·       Long‑term research is essential to understanding Hawaiian marine mammal populations. ·       Human behavior in the ocean can significantly affect wildlife. ·       Public awareness and education are critical for conservation.** Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety [https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety]

Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr Hanna Van Waart

EPISODE NOTES Research, CPSC Warning, and Manufacturer Responsibility Hanna Van Waart PhD  Exercise Physiologist at the University of Aukland discussed full face mask safety, her research and manufacturer’s responsibility The research article, “Full-face snorkel masks increase the incidence of hypoxemia and hypercapnia during simulated snorkeling compared to conventional snorkels,” was published in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine in December 2023. The study was led by Janneke Grundemann, with coauthors Xavier C.E. Vrijdag, Nicole Y.E. Wong, Nicholas Gant, Simon J. Mitchell, and Hanna van Waart. Hanna van Waart is affiliated with the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Auckland. The research team examined whether full-face snorkel masks increase the risk of rebreathing, elevated carbon dioxide, and reduced oxygen levels compared with a conventional snorkel. In the controlled study, 20 healthy participants used two different full-face snorkel masks and a conventional snorkel under seated, light-exercise, and moderate-exercise conditions. The researchers found that full-face snorkel mask trials were stopped more often because end-tidal carbon dioxide exceeded the safety threshold. During light exercise, 18 of 40 full-face mask trials were stopped compared with 4 of 20 conventional snorkel trials. During moderate exercise, 9 of 22 full-face mask trials were stopped compared with 3 of 16 conventional snorkel trials.  The main concern identified by the study is rebreathing caused by non-unidirectional airflow. Full-face snorkel masks are designed to separate inhaled and exhaled air, but the researchers found evidence that this separation was not consistently maintained. Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the eye pockets of the masks fluctuated in a way that showed rebreathing in all full-face mask wearers. This means users may rebreathe exhaled air, leading to hypercapnia, which is elevated carbon dioxide, and hypoxemia, which is reduced oxygen in the blood. Traditional snorkels also carry some risk of carbon dioxide buildup, but they allow users to clear the snorkel tube, remove the mouthpiece, or take fresh breaths more easily. Full-face snorkel masks can be harder to remove and may delay access to fresh air, especially if a person is tired, panicked, or already experiencing symptoms from rising carbon dioxide. Because concerning findings occurred in healthy adults, the risk may be greater for children, older adults, and people with underlying heart or lung conditions. There are also fitting issue. Not everyone has the same face, and smaller faces may have worse fit and there is also the factor of individual lung capacity. These research concerns are reinforced by recent action from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In 2026, the CPSC warned consumers to stop using OUSPT full-face snorkel masks immediately because of the risk of serious injury and death from drowning. The CPSC stated that the mask can cause labored breathing, loss of consciousness, excess fluid in the lungs, and increased carbon dioxide levels that can worsen breathing difficulty. The agency also reported five consumer incidents involving trouble breathing, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness, as well as one lawsuit alleging that the product caused a drowning fatality. Approximately 84,000 OUSPT masks were sold on Amazon between March 2019 and February 2026, and consumers were advised to stop using and dispose of the masks rather than sell or give them away. Taken together, the Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine study and the CPSC warning support a stronger safety message: full-face snorkel masks should not be treated simply as recreational toys. They function as breathing apparatuses because they control how a person inhales and exhales while face-down in the water. For that reason, manufacturers should carry the responsibility to prove these products are safe through rigorous design testing, independent evaluation, and appropriate regulatory standards before they are marketed broadly to residents, visitors, families, and children. The practical safety message is that snorkelers should use simple, well-fitted equipment, snorkel with a buddy, take regular fresh-air breaks, and avoid full-face snorkel masks, especially for children, older adults, and people with medical risk factors. References: Grundemann J, Vrijdag XCE, Wong NYE, Gant N, Mitchell SJ, van Waart H. Full-face snorkel masks increase the incidence of hypoxemia and hypercapnia during simulated snorkeling compared to conventional snorkels. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. 2023;53(4):313-320. doi:10.28920/dhm53.4.313-320. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC Warns Consumers to Stop Using OUSPT Full-Face Snorkel Masks Immediately Due to Risk of Serious Injury and Death from Drowning Hazard. 2026. ** Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety [https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety]

Deep Dive: An Interview with Alissa Magrum, 2026

EPISODE NOTES April 8, 2026 This episode of Deep Dive into Water Safety explores a critical truth: drowning is not random, rare, or inevitable; it is a preventable public health crisis. Alissa Magrum, Executive Director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance [https://ndpa.org/], will unpack why drowning continues to impact communities worldwide despite being largely preventable. Alissa shares her deeply personal journey into drowning prevention and highlights the urgent need to treat water safety as an essential life skill, just like wearing seatbelts or bike helmets. The conversation dives into the concept of “water competency,” emphasizing that safety goes beyond swimming skills to include awareness, environment, and decision-making across all ages and water settings. They also discuss the challenges of messaging, funding, and policy, and why collaboration locally and globally is key to driving change. From innovative community efforts like life jacket loaner stations and experiential learning, to national strategies and global partnerships, this episode highlights the growing momentum in drowning prevention. The takeaway is clear: water safety is everyone’s responsibility. With better education, stronger messaging, and collective action, we can save lives and shift the culture around water safety for future generations. ** Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety [https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety]