Accidental deaths caused by electricity in Sweden, 1975-2000.
This study analyzes accidental fatalities caused by electricity--at work and during leisure time--to evaluate risk factors, the role of alcohol, and to identify possible preventive strategies. In Sweden, data on fatalities by electrocution from 1975 through 2000 were collected from the National Cause-of-Death Register. Additional cases were found in the archives of The Swedish National Electrical Safety Board. Suicides and deaths by lightning were excluded. Two hundred and eighty-five deaths were found, including occupational (n=132), leisure time (n=151), and unknown (n=2). Most deaths were caused by aerial power lines, and the most common place for an electrical injury was a railway area or residential property. Postmortem blood from 20% (n=47) of the tested cases was found positive for alcohol, and these persons were killed mainly during leisure time. During the study period, the overall incidence of electricity-related fatalities has decreased, in spite of increased use of electricity. This indicates that safety improvements have been successful.
Lindström
Richard
R
Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Community Health and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, PO Box 7616, SE-907 12 Umeå, Sweden.
Bylund
Per-Olof
PO
Eriksson
Anders
A
D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol