Explosion fatalities in Sweden, 2000-2018.
1Umeå University, Sweden.
Medicine, Science, and the Law
|June 22, 2021
Summary
Explosion-related deaths in Sweden decreased significantly since the 1980s, with accidents being the most common cause. Prevention efforts should focus on restricting explosives and reducing occupational risks, especially for children.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Explosion-related fatalities in civilian settings require comprehensive understanding for effective prevention strategies.
- Understanding the epidemiology of these deaths is crucial for public safety initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the extent, circumstances, and fatal injuries of explosion-related deaths in Sweden.
- To analyze trends in explosion fatalities over time and identify key contributing factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Board of Forensic Medicine's register for all explosion-related deaths in Sweden from 2000–2018.
- Analyzed 87 cases, categorizing deaths by manner (accidental, suicide, homicide, undetermined) and cause (explosives, flammable gases/fluids).
Main Results:
- Accidental deaths constituted 62% of the 87 cases, followed by suicides (21%) and homicides (7%).
- Adult males were the primary victims, though four children also died; explosives were common in occupational, suicide, and homicide cases.
- A significant decrease in incidence was observed compared to the 1979-1984 period, indicating a positive trend.
Conclusions:
- Explosion-related deaths are rare but challenging to prevent, necessitating targeted interventions.
- Recommendations include restricting explosives access, mitigating occupational risks, and prioritizing child safety.
- The ultimate goal should be the elimination of all fatalities related to explosions in civilian settings.
Related Concept Videos
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
16.4K
All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they...
16.4K
01:14Parametric Survival Analysis: Weibull and Exponential Methods
754
Parametric survival analysis models survival data by assuming a specific probability distribution for the time until an event occurs. The Weibull and exponential distributions are two of the most commonly used methods in this context, due to their versatility and relatively straightforward application.
Weibull Distribution
The Weibull distribution is a flexible model used in parametric survival analysis. It can handle both increasing and decreasing hazard rates, depending on its shape parameter...
Weibull Distribution
The Weibull distribution is a flexible model used in parametric survival analysis. It can handle both increasing and decreasing hazard rates, depending on its shape parameter...
754
01:02Flame Photometry: Overview
999
Flame photometry, also known as flame emission spectrometry, is a technique used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of elements present in a sample using a flame as the source of excitation energy. The concept of flame photometry was realized in the early 1860s by Kirchhoff and Bunsen, who discovered that specific elements emit characteristic radiation when excited in flames. The first instrument developed for this purpose was used to measure sodium (Na) in plant ash using a Bunsen...
999
01:13Impulse
20.0K
According to Newton’s second law of motion, the rate of change of the momentum of an object is the net external force acting on it. The total change in momentum between two timepoints thus depends on both the external force acting on it and the time over which it acts. Describing this mathematically, the total change of an object’s motion is proportional to the force vector and the time over which it is applied. This product is called impulse.
Additionally, it can be shown that the...
Additionally, it can be shown that the...
20.0K
01:11Hazard Rate
238
The hazard rate, also known as the hazard function or failure rate, is a statistical measure used to describe the instantaneous rate at which an event occurs, given that the event has not yet happened. From a probabilistic perspective, it represents the likelihood that a subject will experience the event in a very small time interval, conditional on surviving up to the beginning of that interval. In terms of frequency, the hazard rate can be viewed as the ratio of the number of events to the...
238
02:41Constant Volume Calorimetry
29.1K
Calorimeters are useful to determine the heat released or absorbed by a chemical reaction. Coffee cup calorimeters are designed to operate at constant (atmospheric) pressure and are convenient to measure heat flow (or enthalpy change) accompanying processes that occur in solution at constant pressure. A different type of calorimeter that operates at constant volume, colloquially known as a bomb calorimeter, is used to measure the energy produced by reactions that yield large amounts of heat and...
29.1K