Bathing under the influence: Public ignorant of drowning risks while taking a bath
Professor Shane Darke says attention is focused on drownings in pools and waterways rather than bathtubs.
Researchers have called for a public health campaign on the danger of taking a bath while inebriated after finding that one Australian dies a month in “unforgiving” bathrooms.
An analysis from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of 195 adults who had died in a bathtub or hot tub between 2015 and 2024 found that drugs or alcohol had contributed to the majority of deaths.
A medical episode or injury led to 67 of the deaths, but substance use was a contributor in 113.
Lead author UNSW Sydney Emeritus Professor Shane Darke said many of the deaths included blood alcohol concentrations multiple times over the legal driving limit.
