Sudden Death in the Bathtub at Naruko Spa Area / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

  To examine effects of travel and spa spring to bath death, that of visitors and residents were extracted from inquests from 1984 to 2007 at Naruko Police Office. Total bath death was 192, of which 128 visitors and 64 residents. Average number of visitors per year was 261,000, and average population of residents was 25,468. During first half period bath death of visitors was 80 and residents 15, whereas during latter half visitors 48 and residents 49. Despite day-trippers were as more as 1.5 times to 2.5 times than visitors, bath death of them was scarcely seen. Average mortality rate of bath death for 100,000 of visitors during first half was 225, and in latter half 174, while that of residents was 4.5 in first half and 17.4 in latter half. Therefore ratio of mortality rate of visitors to residents has been ten times or more. Bath death had increased in winter, at from 2000 to 200, on over 40 Celsius degrees of temperature of bathtub, on 20 Celsius degrees or more of temperature difference between bathtub and room, in seniority from 75 to 85 years old, and in drinkers. It was suggested that because bath death was scarcely seen in day-trippers which were more than visitors, risk factor of bath death was not bathing or hot spring, but any combination of inadequate bathing, travel and staying. The maximum risk factor of bath death seemed to be ageing, and or the travel and staying seemed to become stronger stress for elders.