Electrocution-related mortality: a review of 351 deaths by low-voltage electrical current.
BACKGROUND
We describe herein the characteristics of lethal injuries caused by low-voltage electrical current (electrocution), the most frequent injury caused by electrical current.


METHODS
Nine hundred forty-five cases over a period of 41 years (1965-2006) were reviewed, of which, 351 electrocution cases were identified. The descriptive statistical analyses were carried out with the application of SPSS 11.0 software.


RESULTS
Electrocution accounted for 37.14% of all studied electricity-caused injuries. The average age of the victims was 35.25 years. The average age of male victims was 36.19 years and of female victims was 32.55 years. The distribution by gender showed a significant prevalence of the male sex (74.07%). Among the circumstances leading to electrocution, household accidents (78.06%) prevailed over occupational accidents (13.39%). Suicides were significantly rarer (7.41%). 66.10% of all electrocution cases occurred during the summer period from June through September.


CONCLUSIONS
Household accidents prevail among the circumstances under which electrocution occurs, with an insignificant difference in the male/female proportion in this group. The majority of electrocutions occurred during the summer period (June-September). The results obtained in this research can help in the development of a differentiated strategy for the prevention of electrocution, while taking into consideration gender, age and season of the year.
Dokov
William
W
Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Deontology, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria. alfaome@rambler.ru
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002031:Bulgaria; D002203:Capital Punishment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D004560:Electricity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics