Condições morfodinâmicas e susceptibilidade a afogamentos em praias oceânicas de Niterói e Maricá (RJ)

Abstract

Drownings are one of the biggest causes of death in the world, including Brazil. The coasts of Niterói and Maricá (RJ) have been experiencing an intense process of occupation, influenced by the rapid urban growth of the region. These coasts have high dynamics ocean beaches, which present problems caused by the incidence of high energy waves and are frequented by bathers who arrive from different areas of the State of Rio de Janeiro, from other states and countries. As a result, cases of drowning on these beaches are common, including fatal ones, often reported by local newspapers and on social networks. The present study aims to understand the relationship between coastal dynamics and the profile of victims of drowning on the beaches of the municipalities of Niterói and Maricá. To this end, data on the occurrence of drowning recorded by the 4°GMAR/CBMERJ between 2018 and 2019 were analyzed and correlated with environmental variables (geomorphology and coastal processes) and victim’s profile (age group, place of residence, gender, etc.) The beaches with the highest number of drowning records were: Itacoatiara, in Niterói, The beaches with the highest number of drowning records were: Itacoatiara, in Niterói, with a total of 459 occurrences (average of 153 between stations) in 2018 and 731 (average of 243.6) in 2019; followed by Ponta Negra, in Maricá, with 237 occurrences in total (average of 79 between stations) in 2018 and 362 (average of 120.6) in 2019. These beaches have high dynamics and were classified as reflective and intermediate, respectively. Both beaches are considered moderately safe for bathing in good weather conditions and low safety under storm conditions, considering the classification by Short and Hogan (1994). The bather considered at greater risk is male (63-61% in Niterói and 57-66% in Maricá), young and adolescent aged between 11 and 24 years (63-67% in Niterói and 66-67% in Marica). Most drowning records occur with residents of the municipality itself (34-29% in Niterói and 30-25% in Maricá, in 2018 and 2019, respectively). The large number of occurrences involving people residing in the municipality of São Gonçalo (35-45%, Niterói; 18-29% in relation to Maricá) is noteworthy. The results presented here reinforce the need to develop education and prevention actions aimed at beach users, with an emphasis on the schoolage public.