title: Drowning deaths of U.S. Service personnel associated with motor vehicle accidents occurring in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, 2003-2005.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined common factors in vehicular drowning deaths that might lead to changes in equipment or training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drowning deaths among service members deployed to Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, 2003 to 2005, were ascertained using the Armed Forces Medical Examiner Tracking System database. Cases were linked to Army and Navy safety and investigative files.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two cases of vehicular drowning deaths were identified. These occurred mostly at night, were almost always the result of a rollover, and were most frequently associated with a high-mobility medium-weight vehicle. Seat belts were rarely worn, but the majority of injuries should not have been severe enough to affect egress from the vehicle. These drowning deaths seldom occurred while engaged with the enemy and were rarely associated with bad road conditions or bad weather.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective preventive strategies might focus on training and equipment to reduce rollover events and on the expeditious extrication of victims.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammett
authors.forename: Dorraine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pearse
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naito
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D004332:Drowning; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008889:Military Personnel; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D014481:United States