HaPI research on rescuing people who have driven into floodwater featured in Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, Canberra Times, and WA Today

Our recent study “The lived experience of rescuing people who have driven into floodwater: Understanding challenges and identifying areas for providing support” and published in Health Promotion Journal of Australia has been featured in Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, Canberra Times, and WA Today. The study was conducted through a collaboration between the Health and Psychology Innovations (HaPI) Research Lab at Griffith University and Royal Life Saving Society – Australia.

In the study, we propose five strategies for translating these results into practice, including: training and protocol development for (i) emergency personnel and (ii) telephone operators; (iii) training for rescuers regarding non‐compliant rescuees; (iv) educating the public and (v) increasing compliance with closed roads. The findings provide valuable insights into how rescuers can be supported in performing their roles, and implementation of these strategies has the potential to reduce fatalities occurring due to attempting to drive through floodwater.

Keech, J.J., Smith, S.R., Peden, A.E., Hagger, M.S. & Hamilton, K. (in press). The lived experience of rescuing people who have driven into floodwater: Understanding challenges and identifying areas for providing support. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. doi: 10.1002/hpja.181 (download)

Published by hapiresearchlab

Dr Kyra Hamilton is an Associate Professor in health psychology and behavioural medicine in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University, Australia. She has both psychology and nursing qualifications and over 25 years’ experience in the health field. She has particular research interests in health behaviour motivation, self-regulation, and change. Dr Hamilton has won national and international awards for her research and is Chief Investigator on national competitive, industry, and internal grant funded projects. She is Associate Editor Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being and International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Executive Editor Health Psychology Bulletin, and Editorial Board member Health Psychology Review, British Journal of Health Psychology, and Stress & Health. Dr Hamilton is the State Chair (Queensland) of the Australian Psychological Society College of Health Psychologists and the Australian National Delegate to the European Health Psychology Society. View all posts by hapiresearchlab