Falls from heights while clearing snow in Akita prefecture: Re-evaluation after preventive countermeasures and public...

This study was performed to re-examine the incidence of falls from heights while clearing snow in Akita prefecture after implementation of preventive countermeasures and a public service campaign.

This was a retrospective analysis of registration data from the section regarding prevention against natural disasters in the Akita prefectural office. The study population comprised all patients who fell from heights while clearing snow and were transported to the emergency department from December 2015 to March 2018.

In total, 168 individuals (159 male, 9 female) fell from heights while clearing snow. Their mean age was 65.7 years (range, 19-92 years). The largest proportion of falls occurred in January (54.2%; 91 patients). The most common region in which the falls occurred was the inland part of the southern district of Akita prefecture, which accounted for 73.8% of the falls (124 patients). Individuals aged ≥65 years constituted 52.9% of the patients (n = 89). The most common mechanism of injury was a fall from a rooftop, which accounted for 62.5% of the falls (105 patients), followed by a fall from a ladder (31.0%; 52 patients). The most common sites of injury were the upper and lower extremities (39.2%; 66 patients), followed by the spine (36.3%; 61 patients). Seven of the patients died.

Compared with a previous study by Hatakeyama et al. (Falls from heights while clearing snow in Akita Prefecture. Rinsyou Seikeigeka Clin Orthop Surg 2013 Nov; 48(11): 1091-4 [in Japanese]), the total number of patients who fell from heights while clearing snow decreased by one-half. However, the number of persons aged ≥65 years increased and constituted 52.9% of the patients, reflecting the rapidly expanding older population in Akita prefecture.