2019, Number 1
Death caused by electrocution
Sosa MLÚ, Martínez ZNC, Lugo JBR, Rodríguez GC
Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 37-43
PDF size: 400.08 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: death caused by industrial electricity is called electrocution, although this can also be caused by atmospheric electricity. It frequently occurs in work-related accidents, and in the case of little children due to domestic accidents.Objectives: to characterize the deceased subjects by electrocution according to gender, age, activity and place where the accident occurred, as well as, to identify type of voltage, contact, entry and exit point and the most frequent injuries found.
Methods: a descriptive and cross-sectional study of the deceased people due to electrocution was carried out in the Provincial Legal Medicine service from January, 2012 to December, 2017. Their register and necropsy records were reviewed. Nonparametric tests were applied to the sample, absolute numbers and percentages with the variables: gender, age, activity performed and location of the accident, type of voltage, contact, entry and exit point, as well as, the most frequent injuries.
Results: from the 39 deaths, the highest number occurred in 2014 (10); male gender predominated (87.18 %); most of the cases were outdoor accidents due to low voltage and direct contact; entry and exit point was identified and electrical burn was the most frequent injury.
Conclusions: electrocution represented 1.63 % of violent deaths, with a predominance of males in the most productive ages of life. The totality of deaths was due to accidental causes.