Childhood deaths due to electrocution in Adana, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study was conducted to determine the general features of childhood deaths due to electrocution, and draw the attention of community to these preventable deaths.


METHODS
The autopsy records of the Morgue of the Adana Branch of the Turkish Forensic Medicine Council were used. Thirty-seven cases of childhood (under 18) electrocution during the period 1999-2004 were analyzed.


RESULTS
Electrocution deaths comprised 0.8% of all the medico-legal autopsy cases (4515) during these 6 years. Thirty-one (83.8%) of the victims were male and only six (16.2%) were female. They were between 18 months and 18 years of age, and the mean age was 11.35, and all deaths were recorded as accidental.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical units, and paramedical and educational centres should play important roles in formulating public health strategies to tackle preventable deaths such as electrocution.
Akçan
R
R
Department of Forensic Medicine, Cukurova University School of Medicine, Adana, Turkey. akcanmd@hotmail.com
Hilal
A
A
Gülmen
M K
MK
Cekin
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology