Falls from buildings and other fixed structures in New Zealand

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies of falls from buildings and other fixed structures have historically focused on the urban environment. In this study, national injury mortality and hospitalisation data, supplemented by Coroner's investigation reports, were used to describe the epidemiology of such falls across an entire nation, New Zealand. The overall death rate was 0.30 per 100,000 persons per year. Ninety-three percent of cases were older than 14 years of age. Sixty-nine percent of falls were from buildings, with 31% from other structures. Sixty-seven percent of fatal falls were from a height of 10 meters or less. The incidence rate of hospitalisations was 21.4, with the highest rates among those aged 0–9. Fifty-five percent of non-fatal falls were from buildings, with 45% from other structures. National measures to prevent falls from structures should extend to a wide variety of structures and environments. Data presented on the age distributions of falls from different types of structures and structural components (windows, etc.) provide indicators for fall prevention.