Socio-Technical Modeling to Manage Power Distribution for Microgrid Systems with Limited Production Capacity

The quality of life (QOL) in rural communities is improved through electrification. Microgrids can provide electricity in areas where grid access to electricity is infeasible. Still, insufficient power capacity hinders the very progress that microgrids promote. Therefore, we propose a decision-making framework to manage power distribution based on its impact on the rural QOL. Parameters are examined in this paper to represent the QOL pertaining to water, safety, education, and leisure/social activities. Each parameter is evaluated based on condition, community importance, and energy dependence. A solution for power allocation is developed by executing the compromise decision support problem (cDSP) and exploring the solution space. Energy loads, such as those required for powering water pumps, streetlamps, and household devices are prioritized in the context of the QOL. The technique also allows decision-makers to update the power distribution scheme as the dynamics between energy production and demand change over time. In this paper, we propose a framework for connecting QOL and power management. The flexibility of the approach is demonstrated using a problem with varying scenarios that may be time-dependent. The work enables sustainable energy solutions that can evolve with community development.

Socio-demographic profile of drowning deaths in a rural region - An autopsy based study

Drowning is one of the forms of violent asphyxial death due to aspiration of fluid into air-passages, caused by submersion in water or other fluid. Fatal drowning cases are subjected to medicolegal autopsy. During autopsy, many times the findings are nonspecific and hence the diagnosis of drowning rests on combination of circumstantial evidences and autopsy findings. The purpose of this study is to analyze socio-demographic factors of drowning deaths in rural region and to suggest the preventive measures. It is a five-year retrospective autopsy based study carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Government Medical College and Hospital, Ambajogai Dist. Beed, Maharashtra, India from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018 to study the various socio-demographic factors such as age, sex, seasonal distribution, education, marital status and residence in drowning deaths.Predominance of males was seen i.e. 50 cases (58.8%). Age group 11-20 years was the most commonly involved i.e. 20 cases (23.5%). Maximum deaths were reported from well/pond 37 cases (43.5%). Least deaths (2.4%) were observed in post graduates. Maximum deceased were living in rural region i.e. 62 cases (72.9%).Drowning deaths are commonly encountered in autopsy practice.It was seen commonly in males and in age group 11-30 years, in summer season and in well/pond. Students were more commonly involved. Maximum deceased were married and belonged to rural region. Proper safety precautions and water safety education can decrease incidence of accidental drowning.

Water Safety Education Programs in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Seattle Communities: Program Design and Pilot Evaluation

Drowning is a public health concern that disproportionally affects children and minorities in Washington State. Community health educators from Seattle Children’s Hospital designed a Water Safety Education and Lifejacket Giveaway Program for low-income parents of preschool-aged children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The program was interpreted into multiple languages and parents and children in attendance received free lifejackets. The mixed-methods pilot evaluation of this program found statistically significant relationships between language and self-reported parent swim skill level (English-speaker OR 4.6; 95%CI: 1.84 – 11.54); and confidence of keeping one’s child safe (English-speaker OR 3.34; 95%CI: 1.10 – 10.4). Additionally, parents who self-reported that they could swim had four times the odds of feeling confident in keeping their children safe around the water (95% CI: 1.21 - 13.28). Qualitative data from follow-up interviews identified that the program boosted parent knowledge and confidence in safe water practices. Multi-lingual delivery and the role of partner preschools was critical to this program’s success. Specific programmatic focus on adult parent/caregiver skills and knowledge that reduce risk around the water should be a priority for future efforts to reduce drowning.

Snorkelling and breath-hold diving fatalities in New Zealand, 2007 to 2016

Introduction: New Zealand’s (NZ) long coastline offers a diverse underwater environment with abundant opportunities for harvesting seafood and for recreation. Fatalities from snorkelling/breath-hold diving have been reported from the 1960s through to 2006. Those from 2007 to 2016 are reported here. Methods: The National Coronial Information System, the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation diving fatality database, and the Water Safety NZ “Drownbase” were searched and additional coronial data provided by the NZ Ministry of Justice. An anonymised database was created and analysed for multiple factors. A chain of events analysis was performed for each case. Results: There were 38 snorkelling or breath-hold-related deaths in NZ, 33 men and five women. Twenty-nine were breath-hold divers involved in gathering seafood, and six ‘surface snorkellers’, predominantly sightseeing. Two-thirds were diving alone and/or were not being observed by anyone out of the water. Twenty-eight victims were classified as overweight or obese and 19/38 were Māori. Pre-existing health factors that may have or definitely contributed to the fatality were present in 30 cases. The most common of these were cardiac (18/38). Two divers had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, one each epilepsy and asthma whilst cannabis and/or alcohol were possible factors in seven deaths. Five (possibly six) deaths resulted from apnoeic hypoxia. Conclusions: Overall, death from snorkelling/breath-hold diving was an uncommon event (38 in 10 years). Poor judgement was a common feature. Middle-aged Māori men with pre-existing disease feature strongly. This suggests an on-going need for appropriate water safety education within and beyond the Māori community.

The Relation of Drowning Rescue Methods with the Rescuer in Cinema

Objective:The use of various rescue methods for coping with drowning as a subject of research is scarce.Method:With a chi-square statistical analysis in a criterion/convenient sample of film scenes (n=430), it was aimed to reveal how the various rescue methods relate to the rescuer and other related sub-variables. Results confirm that cinematography indeed passes several right and wrong hidden messages to their viewers. It was also found that although the rescue type was not related with the rescuer’s age (p=0.836), body composition (p=0.437) and ethnicity (p=0.849), it was related with the type of the rescuer (if any) that attempted to save the drowning victim (p<0.001;i.e., amateur or professional), the rescuer’s gender (p=0.027) and clothing (p=0.019) and the victim’s early approach (p<0.001).Result:To the degree that our findings correspond with reality, film scenes may be used as means of water safety education in lifesaving and lifeguard classes.

Drowning Prevention: Assessment of a Classroom-Based Water Safety Education Program in Vietnam

Youth drowning continues to be a primary public health issue globally with Eurasian countries experiencing some of the highest recorded rates of injury and death in aquatic settings. The country of Vietnam is currently working toward reducing the number of youth drowning fatalities. Part of these efforts is the introduction of an in-school water safety educational program. For this study, pilot pre/post data were acquired and used to assess overall knowledge acquisition and changes in knowledge of youth in grades 1 to 5 in central Vietnam. A total of 229 schools participated, resulting in 40 198 usable surveys. The results indicated that overall there was a significant change in scores with an acceptable effect size between measures. Mean scores for each of the water safety messages were rated as acceptable (above 90%), satisfactory (between 70% and 90%), and areas of concern (under 70%). Recommendations were made to program leaders about identified areas of concern.