ABSTRACT
During the 25-year period 1959 to 1983, autopsies were performed and blood alcohol concentrations were measured in 122 men and 13 women aged 15 years and older who died in the Geelong coroner's district after accidental submersion. Postmortem blood alcohol concentrations higher than 17 mmol/L (0.08 g/100 mL) were observed in none of the female victims, but were present in 37% of all male victims and in 51% of those in the 30-64 age group. Forty-two per cent of the latter group had blood alcohol concentrations higher than 33 mmol/L (0.15 g/100 mL). The direct and indirect roles played by alcohol in the accidental drownings of adults are discussed.
Subject(s)
Drowning , Ethanol/blood , Accidents , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Alcohol Drinking , Australia , Drowning/blood , Drowning/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Risk , Sex FactorsSubject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Drowning/mortality , Accidents , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Australia , Drowning/blood , Ethanol/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Sex Factors , SwimmingSubject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Drowning , Accidents , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Australia , Autopsy , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Hexachlorophene/therapeutic use , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/prevention & control , Skin Diseases, Infectious/prevention & control , Staphylococcal Infections/prevention & control , Australia , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Hexachlorophene/blood , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/epidemiology , Skin Diseases, Infectious/epidemiology , Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiologyABSTRACT
One hundred and ninety-six fatal immersion accidents occurred in Geelong and district during the 20-year period, 1959 to 1978. Of 54 drownings in children aged 16 years and younger, 43 (80%) occurred in males and 33 (61%) in fresh water. All 14 drownings in children under four years of age occurred in fresh-water sites, 12 of which were about the home. Immediate and optimal resuscitative measures in such children are extremely important.
Subject(s)
Drowning/epidemiology , Accidents , Accidents, Home , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Australia , Bathing Beaches , Child , Child, Preschool , Drowning/prevention & control , Fresh Water , Humans , Immersion/adverse effects , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Protective Devices , Seawater , Sex Ratio , Swimming PoolsSubject(s)
Cross Infection/prevention & control , Dermatitis/prevention & control , Hexachlorophene/therapeutic use , Infant Care , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/prevention & control , Staphylococcal Infections/prevention & control , Administration, Topical , Australia , Central Nervous System/drug effects , Central Nervous System/pathology , Drug Evaluation , Emulsions , Hexachlorophene/administration & dosage , Hexachlorophene/toxicity , Hospitals, Maternity , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Powders , RiskABSTRACT
This paper reviews the part which prior consumption of alcohol played in motor vehicular fatalities in Geelong and district between January, 1967, and June, 1978. There were 344 deaths of persons aged 17 years and older within four hours after the accident. Of 147 such victims who were aged 17 to 50 years and who were drivers of motor vehicles. 54% had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than 0.1 g/100 mL (22 mmol/L) at autopsy. Of 35 male pedestrians, 60% had a BAC greater than 0.15 g/100 mL (33 mmol/L) at autopsy, and 80% of such accidents occurred between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. A high degree of sobriety was noted among all female road traffic victims. The increasing road toll related to motorcycle accidents and the problem of legal and illegal drug use are also briefly discussed.
Subject(s)
Accidents, Traffic , Alcohol Drinking , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Alcoholism/blood , Australia , Automobile Driving , Diphenhydramine , Ethanol/blood , Female , Heroin , Humans , Male , Methaqualone , Middle Aged , Risk , Safety , Substance-Related DisordersSubject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Drowning , Forensic Medicine , Adult , Drowning/etiology , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
This paper reviews 81,756 live births and 858 infant deaths occurring during the years 1959 to 1969. Sixty-three instances of central nervous system vacuolation are reported. Prematurity is shown to be a necessary prerequisite for central nervous system vacuolation to occur during routine antiseptic skin care of newborn infants with 3% hexachlorophene emulsions. Hyperbilirubinaemia is a contributory factor in such premature infants. Long-term clinical follow-up studies show that, should central nervous system vacuolation occur in premature infants, there is no resultant detriment to their immediate clinical progress and physical and neurological development. Normal newborn infants weighing more than 2,000 g do not develop such central nervous system vacuolation during routine antiseptic skin care. The writers conclude that there is no rationale for regulations to restrict the use of 3% hexachlorophene emulsions in routine antiseptic skin care of normal newborn infants and that the benefits of such use far outweigh any possible risks from central nervous system vacuolation.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Hexachlorophene/adverse effects , Infant Care , Infant, Premature, Diseases/chemically induced , Jaundice, Neonatal/chemically induced , Autopsy , Emulsions , Follow-Up Studies , Hexachlorophene/administration & dosage , Hexachlorophene/metabolism , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Retrospective Studies , Skin AbsorptionABSTRACT
This paper reviews the circumstances of 142 deaths by drowning which occurred in Geelong and district during the years 1959 to 1974. The effectiveness of safety nets and protective fences as a means of preventing the accidental submersion of young children in home swimming pools is questioned. Consumption of alcohol before submersion played a major role in the death of many adult males. Of males aged 26 years and over, 79% imbibed alcohol before death, and 57% had a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.1% at autopsy. Of males aged 17 to 25 years of age, 25% imbibed alcohol before death and only half of these had a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.1% at autopsy. The age preponderance for consumption of alcohol and drowning is opposite to that for fatal motor vehicular accidents (in these males aged 17 to 25 years more frequently have significant blood alcohol concentrations at autopsy than males aged 26 years and over). No female consumed alcohol before submersion. The writer suggests that the public, and in particular males aged 26 years and over, should be warned as forcibly against the dangers of "swimming and drinking" and "boating and drinking" as they are against the dangers of "driving and drinking".
