Kinds Of Accidents Research Articles

Accidental ingestion of coins by children: management of the ENT Department of João XXIII Hospital

SummaryThe ingestion of foreign bodies by children is frequently seen in emergency departments. ENTs can manage those lodged in the esophagus but experience is important for a successful intervention.AimDescribe seven cases of children that ingested coins, managed at the ENT Department of João XXIII Hospital.Study designClinical/prospective.Materials and MethodsWe describe seven cases (gender, age, family status, coin size and treatment/evolution).ResultsAge ranged from one to nine years. Two patients were only children and five were the youngest in their families. Coins sizes ranged from 1.9 to 2.5 cm. After eight hours of observation, three cases were treated in the surgery room because the foreign body was lodged in the cricopharynx. Four cases resolved spontaneously.ConclusionThe ENT department has good results removing coins lodged in the upper esophagus using forceps and laryngoscopy; and also using rigid esophagoscopy for the lower esophagus. In this study it was not possible to establish the importance of coin size and patient age in attempting to predict spontaneous resolution, nor if the child being an only child or the youngest in the family may have some predisposition in this kind of accident.

Obstruction d'origine tumorale de la bronche souche droite au cours d'une pneumonectomie gauche

We report a case of severe airway obstruction during a pneumonectomy, due to a tumor embolus in the controlateral main bronchus. Trachea was intubated with a single-lumen tube with a bronchial blocker. This kind of accident is very rare, and often fatal. The mass was retrieved by rigid bronchoscopy and the patient made an uneventful recovery.

Adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disability and their proneness to accidents

The aim of the study was to determine if attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/ learning disability (LD) adolescents are more prone to accidents and to investigate the parental mode of coping with that risk. One hundred and eight high school pupils diagnosed with ADHD/LD and studying in an institute of "special education" were examined and interviewed on the subject of accidents. Eighty-seven pupils, studying in a nearby academic high school, served as a control group. The results showed that pupils in the study group had been involved in 0.57 +/- 1.6 accidents (until the present study) in comparison to 0.23 +/- 0.4 accidents in the control group (p=0.001). The accidents in the ADHD/LD study group had occurred at the mean age of 11.1 +/- 3.4 yr. Eight decimal three percent of these pupils had been involved in recurrent accidents. Circumstances and locations where the accidents occurred were: falls while running or participating in sports activities (38.5%), home environment (23%), school environment (19.2%) and road accidents (11.5%). The study shows that there is a real risk for ADHD/LD adolescents to be involved in all kinds of accidents. Parents should be counting on the help of professional advisors to decrease that risk. Physicians should caution these adolescents and their parents about that risk and advise them on ways and means of accident prevention.

Development tendency for accident situation in building industry

A thorough analysis of the accidents in the Polish building industry in years 1992–2004 is presented. The accident situation, if assumed to be a homogeneous phenomenon, is estimated based on the accident rate of minor, serious and fatal accidents and all the accidents jointly as well as based on the accident seriousness index. However, the accident situation is not a homogeneous phenomenon. The frequency of the particular kinds of accidents and their structure change over the years. The standardised accident rate (which takes into account all the kinds of accidents and their structure at the same time) is proposed for the estimation of the accident situation treated as a nonhomogeneous phenomenon. It is constructed the model of development tendency for a phenomenon according to the information on the accident situation expressed by the accident rate and the accident seriousness index in the years 1992–2004.

Analysis of Two Tire Marks on the Head and Clothing

As a child was crossing a street, he was run over by a van. The driver of the van claimed that he had not seen the child crossing in front of him and stated that he was not at fault because the child went under the car between the left front and rear wheels. There were two tire marks on the child's head and back of the trousers clearly indicating that the child was run over by a car. This kind of accident is rather simple, but if the police or examiner does not analyze the information regarding both the autopsy findings and vehicle investigation, the traffic accident reconstruction will be failed. In this case, we found two patheays of tire marks on the victim. One pathway was on the head and the other was on the trousers and they were almost paralleled. as one tire of a car could not make two paralleled pathways, we could conclude that the van ran over the child with the front and rear tire. It is clear that the child did not go under the car between the left front and rear wheels and he was not at fault. So, here we introduce the detail procedure of analysis of two tire marks on the victim.

Methodology for evaluation of impact injury criteria using real crash injury outcomes and event data recorders

The objective of the present study is to synthesize and investigate using the same set of sixty-one real-world accidents the human head injury prediction capability of the head injury criterion (HIC) and the head impact power (HIP) based criterion as well as the injury mechanisms related criteria provided by the simulated injury monitor (SIMon) and the Louis Pasteur University (ULP) finite element head models. Each accident has been classified according to whether neurological injuries, subdural haematoma and skull fractures were reported. Furthermore, the accidents were reconstructed experimentally or numerically in order to provide loading conditions such as acceleration fields of the head or initial head impact conditions. Finally, thanks to this large statistical population of head trauma cases, injury risk curves were computed and the corresponding regression quality estimators permitted to check the correlation of the injury criteria with the injury occurrences. As different kinds of accidents were used, i.e. footballer, motorcyclist and pedestrian cases, the case-independency could also be checked. As a result, FE head modeling provides essential information on the intracranial mechanical behavior and, therefore, better injury criteria can be computed. It is clearly shown that moderate and severe neurological injuries can only be distinguished with a criterion that is computed using intracranial variables and not with the sole global head acceleration.

Alcohol and/or benzodiazepine use: different accidents—different impacts?

1611 patients were included in this investigation. 16.7% of the patients were involved in traffic accidents, 38.2% were injured by a sudden fall, 3.5% were involved in an act of violence, 22.8% were injured by a sports related accident and 18.9% were hurt within a work-related accident. 19.5% of the patients tested positive for alcohol, 5.2% tested positive for benzodiazepines and 1.4% tested positive for both substances. Blood samples were positive for alcohol in 27% males and 7.7% females and for benzodiazepines in 6.3% males and in 3.5% females. The mean blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as well as the mean benzodiazepine plasma level were higher in patients injured in violent accidents compared to the other injury groups. This study provides epidemiologic information about the relationship between specific kinds of accidents and alcohol and/or benzodiazepine use in a large probability sample of emergency room patients. We found a high number of patients using alcohol, and a lower but still relavant number of benzodiazepine users in this large and unselected traumatology ER sample. This study adds evidence to the existing literature about the co-occurance of alcohol and/or benzodiazepine consumption and accident-related injuries.

On the Frontier of The Empire of Chance: Statistics, Accidents, and Risk in Industrializing America

In The Empire of Chance, historians of science Gigerenzer et al. argue that statistical thinking has been "second to no other area of scientific endeavor" in its influence on "modern life and thought" (Gigerenzer et al. 1989, xiv-xv). This article describes how quantitative descriptions of risk associated with industrialization and technological change became part of the mentality of ordinary Americans. It explains why American began counting accidents, tells what kinds of accidents they counted and how they counted them, and shows how statistical representations of risk were used to justify prescriptions for public policy and individual behavior. On this frontier of the empire of chance, safety experts and self-styled "practical statisticians" were the principal colonizers. Distant from the centers of academic statistical science, they compromised rigorous scientific standards of methodology and accurate prediction in order to make convincing arguments outside their circles of expertise. To convey their point of view to audiences who were not literate in the field of statistics, they created a public language that conveyed statistical ideas through metaphors, graphic representations, and other rhetorical devices. They also engaged non-experts in collecting and analyzing data and, by the 1920s, even used quantitative self-measurement as a device to convince members of the public to alter their own risk-taking behaviors.

Neurorehabilitation of behavioral disorders following lightning and electrical trauma

Neurobehavioral problems after lightning and electrical injuries are diverse. Commonly reported are decreased cognitive function, pain syndromes, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and significant alterations in social and work roles. While the problems resemble those following other kinds of accidents, the injury scenarios for lightning and electrical trauma are unique, and seem to invite more skepticism and controversy in medical and legal realms when the survivors seek help. Studies of lightning and electrical injuries have identified disabling neuropsychiatric changes for some survivors, often persistent and occasionally progressive, that appear weakly related to litigation status, inconsistently related to injury scenarios, and likely influenced by individual premorbid emotional and coping patterns. Standards of care in the fields of brain injury, behavioral medicine, and psychotherapy can inform rehabilitation strategies. Proper assessment is important, as well as an individualized approach to treatment. Multidisciplinary intervention focuses on managing symptoms, learning compensatory skills, providing psychosocial support, and preventing maladaptive behaviors. It has been therapeutic for some patients to become activists for better awareness and prevention.

The role of alcohol in Thailand motorcycle crashes

In order to identify motorcycle accident cause factors and countermeasures in Thailand, a large prospective study was undertaken. Researchers conducted on-scene, in-depth investigation and reconstruction of 969 collisions involving 1082 motorcycle riders. Accidents were randomly sampled and included all levels of injury severity. Alcohol proved to be the most outstanding cause factor, with 393 drinking riders in crashes. Alcohol accidents were distinctly different from non-alcohol crashes. Alcohol accidents were more frequent on weekends and particularly at night, usually when the rider was on his way home. Drinking riders were more likely to lose control of the motorcycle, usually by running off the road. They were more likely to be in a single vehicle accident, to violate traffic control signals, and to be in non-intersection collisions. Males were far more likely to drink and ride than females. Drinking riders were far more likely to be inattentive to the driving task just before they crashed, and to be the primary or sole cause of the accident. One-fourth of all riders did not go to the hospital, and another 42% needed only treatment in the emergency room. Drinking riders were more likely to be hospitalized and far more likely to be killed. The higher hospitalization and fatality rates of drinking riders resulted from the kinds of accidents in which they were involved, not from the minimal differences in speeds and helmet use. Problems with balance and coordination were about equally rare among drinking and non-drinking riders. Inattention was a far greater contributing factor.

Quality-of-Life and animal models after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common sequel after different kinds of accidents especially amongst young male adults. Clear cut epidemiological data on the incidence, the prehospital and hospital care and the outcome are scarce. Statistics from the US report 1–1,8 Mio. hospital admissions with TBI per year leaving 70.000–90.000 patients with permanent physical, cognitive and/or behavioural disabilities. In Germany the incidence for all types of TBI (minor – severe) is 3,2 per 1000 inhabitants/year with 9% suffering from severe head injuries. Apart from medical and economic consequences it is of utmost importance to assess how the patients survive. For assessment Health Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) is increasingly accepted as relevant outcome measure in medicine. The Meran conference in 1991 helped in defining the construct of HRQoL. A systematic review of our group in 1999 revealed that a specific instrument for TBI patients has not been developed. Instead, QoL research concentrated only on fragments of the construct. A further BMBF supported Consensus Conference was initiated in 1999 to rank the major problems of the patients at different time points after the accident, to specify the domains of the HRQoL in the sequel of the trauma and to develop guidelines for the assessment of the HRQoL in different types of multiple injury including TBI. As a result a QoL measure for multiple injured patients has been developed and validated (POLO-Chart). A specific Quality-of-Life tool for TBI patients called QOLIBRI is under development including 14 countries and 10 languages. A status report will be given. To support the clinical outcome studies, we studied in parallel the effects of “enriched environment“ and motor-sensor stimulation on neurofunctional outcome with the fluid-percussion model for TBI in rats. We found improved outcomes in cognitive behaviour (Barnes-Maze) and the composite neuroscore in a randomized controlled study. Further studies on the neuroendocrine response are in progress. Supported by the BMBF (German Ministry of Science and Research) and the Koeln-Fortune Program.

생활체육 안전사고에 대한 보상제도 고찰

National physical training policy has been growing to expand people`s participation into Sports For All. As of December 2003, participants of Sports For All is about 39.8%. However, once 5 days working system take effect, it will be expected to increase with demand of adventure sports, outside activities and sports watching due to raise health interest. Since sports activity is more active, there is a safety accident increased. Currently, it shows 127% of safety accident for Sports for All. This percentage is said that about 27,600 number of people who might have this kinds of accident among total 2,100,000 members of the National Council of Sport for All. Therefore, we need to have a strategy as like below. First of all, we need to consolidate of safety device strongly. So, it won`t allow to participate any sports competition if person who doesn`t take out an insurance policy from the National Council of Sport for All. Secondly, it has to set up and develop of the public insurance type instead of having demage responsible insurance policy by sponsor. Then, it might have better compensation for safety accident which it occur from sports competition or any other programs. Finally, for the percentage of safety accident, Korea`s number is higher than Japan`s as like 127% to 0.94%. It also need to release the safety book classified by event, so it will be spread and educate people for every competition and operation of sports program, etc.

Accidents in materials handling at construction sites

The aim of this study is to examine those occupational accidents at construction sites that are related to materials handling as compared with all reportable occupational accidents at construction sites. The main concern is to define the kinds of accidents that occur in materials handling. The data were gathered from two sources: a large Finnish construction company and the database of reports of serious occupational accidents (Sammio). One third of all the reported accidents in the studied construction company occurred during materials transfer and 36% of the absenteeism days resulted from these accidents. Materials handling thus caused more serious accidents than other work activities (t = −2.44, df = 351, p < 0.005). Minor accidents were mostly due to over‐exertion whereas serious accidents were mostly falling from a height and injuries caused by falling and collapsing objects. The manual transfer of materials caused most of the materials transfer accidents in the company and mechanical transfer most of the serious materials handling accidents. Over‐exertion can, therefore, be decreased by reducing manual materials handling. On the other hand, replacing manual transfers with mechanical transfers means that there arises a risk of serious accidents.

The accident process preceding back injuries among Australian nurses

A prospective dynamic-population-based study was conducted to investigate factors involved in the accident process preceding over-exertion back injuries among nursing personnel. All reported occupational over-exertion back injuries due to accidents among nurses in hospitals included in one network in Melbourne during 13 months were investigated. The assumption was that several factors interact in the accident process causing a back injury, and therefore detailed information was obtained for each injury by interviews with the injured person. Risks in the physical environment were identified using an ergonomic checklist. During the study period 127 nurses who had reported accidents leading to over-exertion back injury were interviewed. Cluster analysis yielded five well-defined clusters and their pattern of contributing factors for the accident process. The most frequent over-exertion back injury occurred during patient transfer in the bed or to/from the bed. Transfer devices were rarely used, most often due to lack of devices. Risks in the environment, most often lack of space, and/or lack of transfer devices often compelled the nurse to work in an awkward position. The nurse often felt rushed/stressed. The clusters showed the complexity of these kinds of accidents, and indicated that the measures for prevention must be of different kinds and at several different levels in the organization.

Perceived physical work capacity, stress, sleep disturbance and occupational accidents among firefighters working during a strike

Fire-fighting and rescue work are arranged in such a way that various kinds of accidents and catastrophes can be handled. In an understaffed situation, such as a strike, this goal may not be met. The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with perceived physical work capacity, stress, sleep disturbance, and occupational accidents among firefighters who remained at work during an extended strike. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out among 543 firefighters (83% of the target group) in 71 fire brigades in Finland. After the strike had lasted for 9 to 11 weeks, most of the firefighters perceived their physical work capacity to be rather good or very good. Stress increased along with a decreasing number of personnel in a crew (OR= 2.3, CI= 1.0-5.3, for less than 75% of a normal crew vs. normal crew) and with decreasing number of personnel in a shift (OR= 2.4, CI= 1.1-5.4, for less than 25% of normal shift vs. normal shift). Sleep disturbance was reported to occur as soon as the total working time exceeded 50 h/week. Working more than 70 h/week increased the risk of occupational accidents almost 4-fold compared with working no more than 50 h/week. These results suggest that exceptional situations, such as a strike, are a challenge to human capacity. With time, increased stress and sleep disturbance may lead to serious consequences.

Assessment of electric accidents in power industry

AbstractNowadays, electric power is the most commonly used form of energy and is an important part of everyday life. The violation of the rules of use of electricity implies material damages, human injuries, and, unfortunately, very often, loss of life. According to the international statistics, electric accidents are the most fatal among the other kinds of accidents. This particularity is also confirmed for Greece.The present article is an assessment of the electrocutions that happened between 1992 and 1996 to workers in the power industry of Greece. Specifically, data concerning the occupational characteristics of the injured person, the time at which the accident occurred, and its consequences are presented and discussed.The calculation of the accident frequency rate per 1,000 workers, with special attention to fatal accidents, is proposed. Also, the structure of an information system for accidents is proposed. With its simultaneous connection to the central computer of the company, the information system can calculate the frequency and severity rates per workplace, per group, and per specialty of workers. Also, it characterizes the workers according to the occupational risk they are running. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The problem of recovery of physiological functions in humans in deep accidental hypothermia (to the problem of limits of physiological adaptation)

At present, the recovery of physiological functions in a cooled man after different kinds of accidents and sea catastrophes (accidental hypothermia) is a topical task of emergency medicine and, at the same time, an important problem of thermobiology, thermoregulation, and bioenergetics. This work outlines the disturbances of the physiological functions of the body at different stages of the development of accidental hypothermia, the main modern methods of recovery of these functions, and some unresolved problems of the physiology of resuscitating hypothermia victims. New achievements in the study of the mechanisms of cold-induced disorders of physiological functions are presented in this work, and the correction of the physiological methods for restoring the life activity of a cooled man is proposed.

Intrathecal Vincristine: Long-Term Survivor of Potentially Fatal Chemotherapeutic Error

Intrathecal Vincristine: Long-Term Survivor of Potentially Fatal Chemotherapeutic Error

A simple analytical method for determining the atmospheric dispersion of upward-directed high velocity releases

The evaluation of atmospheric dispersion of a cloud, arising from a sudden release of flammable or toxic materials, is an essential tool for properly designing flares, vents and other safety devices and to quantify the potential risk related to the existing ones or arising from the various kinds of accidents which can occur in chemical plants. Among the methods developed to treat the important case of upward-directed jets, Hoehne's procedure for determining the behaviour and extent of flammability zone is extensively utilized, particularly concerning petrochemical plants. In a previous study, a substantial simplification of the aforesaid procedure was achieved, by correlating the experimental data with an empirical formula, allowing to obtain a mathematical description of the boundaries of the flammable cloud. Following a theoretical approach, a most general model is developed in the present work, applicable to the various kinds of design problems and/or risk evaluation regarding upward-directed releases from high velocity sources. It is also demonstrated that the model gives conservative results, if applied outside the range of the Hoehne's experimental conditions. Moreover, with simple modifications, the same approach could be easily applied to deal with the atmospheric dispersion of anyhow directed releases.

Predicting at-fault car accidents of older drivers

Considerable research shows car accidents are difficult to predict using screening tests. The objective of this exploratory study is to determine whether detailed accident analysis taking into account the specific accident type might enhance the predictive power of a standardised road test and a set of selected neuropsychological tests. Moreover, this study addresses the validity and reliability of performance-based driving evaluation. The sample consisted of 84 older drivers between 65 and 96 years of age who were referred for a fitness-to-drive evaluation. Using discriminant analyses, the subjects were classified as drivers with and without at-fault accidents. We compared the accuracy of neuropsychological tests and a road test for postdicting all accidents, accidents classified into two categories and accidents classified into four different categories. The percentages of correctly classified subject were highest at the level of the most detailed classification. These results suggest that, although accident prediction is difficult, the predictability of car accidents by neurocognitive measurements and a road test increases when the kind of accident is specified.