title: Balconing: An alcohol-induced craze that injures tourists. Characterization of the phenomenon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Balconing is the term that has been given to consciously jumping into a swimming pool from a balcony or falling from height while climbing from one balcony to another in hotels during holidays METHOD: A 5 years retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral centre for severe trauma in the Balearic Islands, where balconing is endemic. Demographic data such as age, sex, nationality, personal records, alcohol or drug consumption, height of the fall and season of the year were collected. Scales of trauma severity and mortality rates were also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients were males, 45 (97.83%), aged 24.20±5.98years, 28 of them of British nationality (60.87%). In 44 (95.65%) cases, alcohol consumption was present accompanied by other drugs in 17 (36.96%) cases. The mean height of the fall was approximately 3 floors. Only 6 (13.04%) were intentional jumpers whereas 40 (86.96%) fell while trying to reach another balcony.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balconing is a new injury mechanism for alcohol-related falls from heights. Alcohol and other drug consumption are almost always involved, so balconing could be addressed as another consequence of alcohol abuse and binge drinking.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Ctra. Valldemosa, 07002 Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Malignant Peritoneal Disease Research Group, Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Electronic address: segusamjj@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Segura-Sampedro
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Ctra. Valldemosa, 07002 Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Electronic address: cristina.pineno@ssib.es.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pineño-Flores
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Ctra. Valldemosa, 07002 Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Electronic address: josemaria.garcia@ssib.es.
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Ctra. Valldemosa, 07002 Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Electronic address: patricia.jimenez@ssib.es.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Morillas
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Ctra. Valldemosa, 07002 Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Malignant Peritoneal Disease Research Group, Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Electronic address: Rafa.morales@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morales-Soriano
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Ctra. Valldemosa, 07002 Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Malignant Peritoneal Disease Research Group, Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Electronic address: xavier.gonzalez@ssib.es.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: González-Argente
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Alcohol; Balconing; Fall from height; Tourism; Trauma