-
The American Journal of Forensic... Jun 2013Sudden death in a hot bathtub occurs frequently in Japan, particularly among elderly people. This retrospective report describes the epidemiologic circumstances and...
Sudden death in a hot bathtub occurs frequently in Japan, particularly among elderly people. This retrospective report describes the epidemiologic circumstances and physical findings at autopsy. In total, 268 victims were found unconscious or dead during tub bathing. After postmortem examination, the manner of death was judged as natural cause in 191 (71.2%) and accidental drowning in 63 (23.5%) cases. Mean age (SD) was 72.1 (15.2) years with no significant difference between males and females. A seasonal difference was evident: the winter displayed the highest frequency. Drowning water inhalation, which was confirmed in 72% of victims, was absent in the others. The most common observations on postmortem examination were cardiac ischemic changes and cardiomegaly. Water inhalation signs were evident in a significantly fewer victims exhibiting these factors. In contrast, inhalational findings were observed more frequently in victims with other backgrounds such as alcohol intake, mobility disturbance, and history of epilepsy. Annual mortality in Japan from accidental drowning in persons aged older than 75 years is 33 deaths per 100,000 population. However, this number may be considerably underestimated as pathologists tend to regard lack of water inhalation as indicating a natural cause of death. Confusion in diagnosis remains consequent to the accidental and natural aspects of "dead in hot bathtub" phenomenon.
Topics: Accidents; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antipsychotic Agents; Baths; Cardiomegaly; Central Nervous System Depressants; Child; Death, Sudden; Drowning; Drug Overdose; Ethanol; Female; Forensic Pathology; Heart Diseases; Humans; Intracranial Hemorrhages; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Ischemia; Respiratory Aspiration; Retrospective Studies; Seasons; Seizures; Young Adult
PubMed: 23629407
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e31828d68c7 -
Veterinary Pathology Sep 2016Determining the cause of death in animals recovered from bodies of water, swimming pools, or other water-containing vessels is challenging. Animals recovered from water... (Review)
Review
Determining the cause of death in animals recovered from bodies of water, swimming pools, or other water-containing vessels is challenging. Animals recovered from water may or may not have drowned. The diagnosis of drowning is usually one of exclusion, requiring information from the crime scene, recovery scene, the medical history or reliable witness accounts. While there are characteristic macroscopic and microscopic lesions of drowning, none are specific and are dependent on the volume and tonicity of the drowning medium. Beyond interpreting the postmortem findings, the court may ask pathologists to comment on the behavioral and welfare implications of drowning. This requires an understanding of the drowning process, which is a complex series of sequential, concurrent, and overlapping cardiorespiratory reflexes, electrolyte and blood gas abnormalities, aspiration, physical exhaustion, and breathlessness eventually culminating in death. This review addresses the mechanisms, lesions, and diagnostic issues associated with drowning in nonaquatic companion animals.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Animals; Cause of Death; Drowning; Forensic Pathology; Immersion; Pathology, Veterinary
PubMed: 26926081
DOI: 10.1177/0300985815625757 -
Medicine, Science, and the Law Jul 2011We analysed forensic autopsies of 536 consecutive adults to determine the relationship between the presence of stomach contents and the manner of death. Stomach contents... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
We analysed forensic autopsies of 536 consecutive adults to determine the relationship between the presence of stomach contents and the manner of death. Stomach contents were identified in 27 (79.4%) of 34 accidental drownings and in 22 (43.1%) of 51 suicidal drownings (P < 0.01). Accidental drowning was the manner of death most frequently associated with the presence of stomach contents, and stomach contents were found significantly more often in this type of death than in suicidal drowning. These findings indicate that food intake is a factor possibly related to accidental drowning and suggest that fasting may be required before swimming or taking a bath to prevent accidental drowning.
Topics: Accidents; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Drowning; Female; Forensic Pathology; Gastrointestinal Contents; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Suicide; Young Adult
PubMed: 21905572
DOI: 10.1258/msl.2011.010150 -
La Revue Du Praticien Mar 1990Drowning is one of the most common causes of death in children. Near-drowning is even more frequent: near-drowning/drowning ratio is approximately 9-10/1. The age-groups...
Drowning is one of the most common causes of death in children. Near-drowning is even more frequent: near-drowning/drowning ratio is approximately 9-10/1. The age-groups between 1 and 3 years and 15 and 25 years are most likely to be at risk for submersion accidents. The majority of drowning accidents in children occur in swimming pools and bathtubs. The awake or stuporous victim has an excellent prognosis. In comatose patients, the prognosis is directly proportional to the severity of coma. Treatment is mostly supportive. Despite optimal care, it is not infrequent for a near-drowning accident to end in death or severe neurological handicap. Prevention must be a priority for the medical profession.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Drowning; Humans; Infant; Near Drowning; Prognosis; Resuscitation; Risk Factors
PubMed: 2320908
DOI: No ID Found -
Singapore Medical Journal Mar 1978
Topics: Accidents; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Drowning; Ethanol; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Singapore
PubMed: 663676
DOI: No ID Found -
The Medical Clinics of North America Mar 2016Injuries result in nearly 6 million deaths and incur 52 million disability-adjusted life-years annually, making up 15% of the global disease burden. More than 90% of... (Review)
Review
Injuries result in nearly 6 million deaths and incur 52 million disability-adjusted life-years annually, making up 15% of the global disease burden. More than 90% of this burden occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Given this burden, it is not unexpected that injuries are the leading cause of death among travelers to low- and middle-income countries, namely, from road traffic crashes and drowning. Therefore, pretravel advice regarding foreseeable dangers and how to avoid them may significantly mitigate injury risk, such as wearing seatbelts, helmets, and personal flotation devices when appropriate; responsibly consuming alcohol; and closely supervising children.
Topics: Accidents, Traffic; Developing Countries; Drowning; Humans; Risk; Safety; Travel; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 26900117
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.07.011 -
Journal of Forensic Sciences Mar 1990Abuse and misuse of soda vending machines has resulted in a considerable number of injuries and deaths. The machines fall forward when rocked or tilted and crush those...
Abuse and misuse of soda vending machines has resulted in a considerable number of injuries and deaths. The machines fall forward when rocked or tilted and crush those in front. These accidents are all preventable by a simple and cheap device. There should be a law compelling safety requirements for these machines. This is a report of a recent case in which a young man was crushed to death.
Topics: Accident Prevention; Accidents; Adolescent; Asphyxia; Beverages; Food Dispensers, Automatic; Food Services; Humans; Male
PubMed: 2329341
DOI: No ID Found -
Epilepsia Aug 1998
Review
Topics: Accident Prevention; Accidental Falls; Accidents; Burns; Craniocerebral Trauma; Drowning; Epilepsy; Humans; Incidence; Risk Factors; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 9701385
DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01189.x -
Journal of the American Academy of... Oct 2001To review the primary causes of unintentional deaths in young adult males and suggest strategies for educating young men about reducing risks for accidental death. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To review the primary causes of unintentional deaths in young adult males and suggest strategies for educating young men about reducing risks for accidental death.
DATA SOURCES
Selected scientific literature and Internet sources.
CONCLUSIONS
Unintentional deaths are the fifth leading cause of death in all age groups, after heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Accidental death is the leading cause of death in males 1 to 44 years of age. Motor vehicle crashes, drowning, gunshot wounds, and occupational fatalities are among the leading injuries that contribute to the unanticipated death of the young adult male.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
The ability to make sound decisions is a developmental process that is not achieved until later in adolescence or early adulthood. Nurse practitioners must assess the adolescent developmentally to provide appropriate guidance and assistance with behavior change.
Topics: Accidents; Accidents, Occupational; Accidents, Traffic; Adolescent; Adult; Cause of Death; Decision Making; Drowning; Health Promotion; Humans; Male; Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics; Wounds and Injuries; Wounds, Gunshot
PubMed: 11930766
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2001.tb00004.x -
Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi =... May 2014To study the trend of accidental death among children under 5 years of age in Beijing.
OBJECTIVE
To study the trend of accidental death among children under 5 years of age in Beijing.
METHODS
Cases of death in children under 5 years old in Beijing, during 2003-2012 were collected, to analyze the strength and trends of accidental death, main causes of accident and its epidemiological features.
RESULTS
The overall accidental death was 8.47% of all death among children under 5 years old in Beijing during 2003-2012. During these 10 years, data showed a downward trend on the mortality rates on injuries (P < 0.05), especially on drowning, in 1-4 year old and rural children under five years of age. In 2012, the accidental death rate of children under five was 6.37/105. The 5 main causes of accidental deaths were suffocation, traffic accident, falling, poisoning and drowning, in order of size. The main causes of death were suffocation in the 0-1 year group, suffocation and traffic accident in the 1-2 year group and traffic accident in the 3-4 year group. The proportion of deaths due to traffic accident increased gradually with age. Area distribution showed that accidental deaths mainly happened in rural area (52.19%), with two main types as traffic accident and suffocation.
CONCLUSION
The reduction of accidental death rate among children under 5 years old in Beijing mainly was caused by the decline of accident mortality in 1-4 year old and children in the rural areas. Our data suggested that the focus in reducing the accidental death rate among children under 5 years old in Beijing should target on the prevention of infant suffocation and traffic accidents among the 1-4 year old, with rural areas in particular.
Topics: Accidents; Accidents, Traffic; Asphyxia; Cause of Death; Child Mortality; Child, Preschool; China; Drowning; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Suicide
PubMed: 25059368
DOI: No ID Found