Accidental mechanical asphyxia of children in Germany between 2000 and 2008.
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Accidental mechanical asphyxia of children in Germany between 2000 and 2008. / Meyer, F S; Trübner, K; Schöpfer, J; Zimmer, G; Schmidt, E; Püschel, Klaus; Vennemann, M; Bajanowski, T; Group, Asphyxia Study; Althaus, L; Bach, P; Banaschak, S; Cordes, O; Dettmeyer, S R; Dressler, J; Gahr, B; Grellner, W; Héroux, V; Mützel, E; Tatschner, T; Zack, F; Zedler, B.
In: INT J LEGAL MED, Vol. 126, No. 5, 5, 2012, p. 765-771.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Accidental mechanical asphyxia of children in Germany between 2000 and 2008.
AU - Meyer, F S
AU - Trübner, K
AU - Schöpfer, J
AU - Zimmer, G
AU - Schmidt, E
AU - Püschel, Klaus
AU - Vennemann, M
AU - Bajanowski, T
AU - Group, Asphyxia Study
AU - Althaus, L
AU - Bach, P
AU - Banaschak, S
AU - Cordes, O
AU - Dettmeyer, S R
AU - Dressler, J
AU - Gahr, B
AU - Grellner, W
AU - Héroux, V
AU - Mützel, E
AU - Tatschner, T
AU - Zack, F
AU - Zedler, B
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Accidents constitute one of the greatest risks to children, yet there are few medical reports that discuss the subject of accidental asphyxia. However, a systematic analysis of all documented cases in Germany over the years 2000-2008 has now been conducted, aiming at identifying patterns of accidental asphyxia, deducing findings, defining avoidance measures and recommending ways of increasing product safety and taking possible precautions. The analysis is based on a detailed retrospective analysis of all 91 relevant autopsy reports from 24 different German forensic institutes. A variety of demographic and morphological data was systematically collected and analysed. In 84 of the 91 cases, the sex of the victim was reported, resulting in a total of 57 boys (68 %) and 27 girls (32 %). The age spread ranged between 1 day and 14 years, with an average of 5.9 years. Most accidents occurred in the first year of life (20 %) or between the ages of 1 and 2 years (13 %). In 46 % of cases, the cause of death was strangulation, with the majority occurring in the home environment. In 31 % of all cases, the cause of death was positional asphyxia, the majority resulting from chest compression. In 23 % of cases, the cause of death was aspiration, mainly of foreign bodies. Today, accidental asphyxiation is a rare cause of death in children in Germany. Nevertheless, the majority of cases could have been avoided. Future incidence can be reduced by implementing two major precautions: increasing product safety and educating parents of potentially fatal risks. Specific recommendations relate to children's beds, toys and food.
AB - Accidents constitute one of the greatest risks to children, yet there are few medical reports that discuss the subject of accidental asphyxia. However, a systematic analysis of all documented cases in Germany over the years 2000-2008 has now been conducted, aiming at identifying patterns of accidental asphyxia, deducing findings, defining avoidance measures and recommending ways of increasing product safety and taking possible precautions. The analysis is based on a detailed retrospective analysis of all 91 relevant autopsy reports from 24 different German forensic institutes. A variety of demographic and morphological data was systematically collected and analysed. In 84 of the 91 cases, the sex of the victim was reported, resulting in a total of 57 boys (68 %) and 27 girls (32 %). The age spread ranged between 1 day and 14 years, with an average of 5.9 years. Most accidents occurred in the first year of life (20 %) or between the ages of 1 and 2 years (13 %). In 46 % of cases, the cause of death was strangulation, with the majority occurring in the home environment. In 31 % of all cases, the cause of death was positional asphyxia, the majority resulting from chest compression. In 23 % of cases, the cause of death was aspiration, mainly of foreign bodies. Today, accidental asphyxiation is a rare cause of death in children in Germany. Nevertheless, the majority of cases could have been avoided. Future incidence can be reduced by implementing two major precautions: increasing product safety and educating parents of potentially fatal risks. Specific recommendations relate to children's beds, toys and food.
KW - Germany
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Female
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Adolescent
KW - Child
KW - Cause of Death
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Infant
KW - Retrospective Studies
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Autopsy
KW - Accidents/legislation & jurisprudence/mortality
KW - Accidents, Home/legislation & jurisprudence/mortality/prevention & control
KW - Airway Obstruction/pathology/prevention & control
KW - Asphyxia/mortality/pathology/prevention & control
KW - Child Day Care Centers
KW - Consumer Product Safety/legislation & jurisprudence
KW - Foreign Bodies/pathology/prevention & control
KW - Hemorrhage/pathology
KW - Parents/education
KW - Purpura/pathology
KW - Germany
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Female
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Adolescent
KW - Child
KW - Cause of Death
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Infant
KW - Retrospective Studies
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Autopsy
KW - Accidents/legislation & jurisprudence/mortality
KW - Accidents, Home/legislation & jurisprudence/mortality/prevention & control
KW - Airway Obstruction/pathology/prevention & control
KW - Asphyxia/mortality/pathology/prevention & control
KW - Child Day Care Centers
KW - Consumer Product Safety/legislation & jurisprudence
KW - Foreign Bodies/pathology/prevention & control
KW - Hemorrhage/pathology
KW - Parents/education
KW - Purpura/pathology
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
VL - 126
SP - 765
EP - 771
JO - INT J LEGAL MED
JF - INT J LEGAL MED
SN - 0937-9827
IS - 5
M1 - 5
ER -
