About this episode

Dr. Will Koon discusses innovative approaches to drowning prevention in Hawaiʻi, emphasizing systems thinking and data-driven strategies.

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 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…

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Will Koon

Topics covered

• drowning prevention
• water safety
• community partnerships
• data analysis
• systems thinking

Keywords

• drowning prevention
• water safety
• Hawaiʻi
• data
• community partnerships
• systems thinking
• risk reduction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Royal Life Saving Australia

Places: Hawaiʻi

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