Land motor vehicle-related fatal drowning in Finland: A nation-wide population-based survey

: Philippe Lunetta, Kari Haikonen

Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

: 2020

Traffic Injury Prevention

: TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION

: TRAFFIC INJ PREV

: 21

: 8

: 533

: 538

: 6

: 1538-9588

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2020.1810678

: 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.

Land motor vehicle related fatal drowning in Finland A nation wide population based survey.pdf