Fatal accidents and alcohol in Western Norway
Giertsen, J.C.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 105(32): 2311-2312
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 4082144 Document Number: 249079
500 medico-legal autopsies on accidental death of persons over 15 years of age from Western Norway have been examined. Alcohol intoxication was defined as a blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.05 percent. The overall percentage of alcohol intoxication was 45. However, the series is representative only for those types of accidental death that are regularly reported to the police, i.e. deaths from road traffic accidents, drowning, fire, sea and air transport. In these groups the frequency of alcohol intoxication was: motorcar drivers 40 percent, pedestrians 25-30 percent, leisure time drownings 60 per cent, fires and sea transport 50 percent, air transport zero. Obviously, alcohol intoxication plays an important part in accident epidemiology in Norway.