A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Land motor vehicle-related fatal drowning in Finland: A nation-wide population-based survey
Authors: Philippe Lunetta, Kari Haikonen
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
Publication year: 2020
Journal: Traffic Injury Prevention
Journal name in source: TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION
Journal acronym: TRAFFIC INJ PREV
Volume: 21
Issue: 8
First page : 533
Last page: 538
Number of pages: 6
ISSN: 1538-9588
eISSN: 1538-9588
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2020.1810678
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/50503483
Objective: WHO mortality statistics overlook land motor-vehicle accident (LMVA)-related drowning. The aim of the study was to provide an overview of the prevalence and trends of fatal LMVA-related drowning in Finland, plus the main crash settings, victims' demographic characteristics, and contributing factors leading to such deaths.Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, population-based study of drowning deaths associated with LMVA among Finnish residents of all ages, 1971-2013. LMVA-related drownings and applicable variables were extracted from the Statistics Finland (SF) mortality database by cross-analysis of ICD injury- and external cause-of-death codes.Results: During the study period, 538 LMVAs leading to drowning occurred among Finnish residents (2.5/1 000 000/year; 4.9% of all unintentional drownings, 3.7% of all LMVA). Three main settings, ones responsible for over 95% of LMVA-related drownings, were recognized: traffic vehicle accidents involving a passenger car; non-traffic vehicle accident involving a snowmobile; and non-traffic accidents involving agricultural, industrial, or construction vehicles. Alcohol use was a contributing factor for death in > 40% of the victims, whereas severe injuries were reported in less than 6%.Conclusion: Because transport safety is crucial to prevent any vehicle entering the water, placing LMVA-related drowning in the category of transport accidents is warranted. Once the vehicle becomes submersed, however, prevention measures to avoid death by drowning remains decisive.
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