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Wilderness mortalities: a 13-year experience
T Goodman1, K V Iserson, H Strich
1Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA. tgood808@lava.net
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|February 27, 2001
Summary
Wilderness deaths are often immediate and linked to alcohol. Prevention, particularly reducing alcohol use in outdoor areas, is key to reducing fatalities.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Epidemiology
- Wilderness Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Wilderness environments present unique challenges for emergency response.
- Understanding the causes and circumstances of wilderness fatalities is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology of wilderness mortalities in a localized area with diverse terrain.
- To identify risk factors and patterns associated with wilderness deaths.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of search and rescue logs, hospital records, and autopsy reports.
- Analysis of 100 wilderness deaths in Pima County, Arizona, from 1980 to 1992.
- Inclusion criteria: deaths in remote wilderness locations inaccessible to standard emergency medical services.
Main Results:
- 100 fatalities identified: 59 unintentional traumas, 18 suicides, 9 homicides, 12 medical deaths.
- Alcohol detected in 50% of cases; a probable factor in 40% of trauma deaths.
- Most deaths (80%) occurred immediately or before search and rescue arrival; only 2 potentially survivable cases.
Conclusions:
- Wilderness mortalities are frequently linked to alcohol-related incidents.
- The majority of deaths are rapid, often occurring before medical intervention is possible.
- Prevention, focusing on reducing alcohol consumption in wilderness areas, is the most effective strategy for reducing fatalities.
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