Accidents
Definition:"An unexpected, unplanned occurrence which may involve injury".
WHO definition:
Unpremeditated event resulting in recognizable damage.
Important facts about accidents:
* Accidents represent a major epidemic of non-communicable disease. They are no longer considered accidental and they are part of the price we pay for technological progress.* Accidents have their own natural history and follow the same epidemiological pattern as any other disease (Interaction between host, agent and environment).
* Accidents occur more frequently in certain age groups, at certain times, and at certain localities.
* Certain people are more prone to accidents; alcohol, drugs, physiological and psychological states increase their susceptibility.
* The majority of accidents are preventable.
* Accidents allover the world, they rank the fourth among the ten leading causes of deaths, leading to 7.5 per cent of deaths in both developed and developing countries. About 4 million of deaths allover the world is due to accidents (only one million is due to intentional injuries).
Types of accidents:
Road traffic accidents: Accounts for about 1 million of deaths allover the world annually, and for each death, there will be 30-40 minor injuries, and 10-15 serious injuries (disabilities). Mean ages affected are 15-24 years.Domestic accidents: Affects both extreme of ages and the most common causes are;
Drowning.Burns.
Poisoning.
Falls.
Injuries from sharp and pointed instruments.
Bites and other injuries from animals.
Industrial accidents: Thousands workers are died and many others are injured and crippled.
Passenger's accidents: Railways, airplanes, ships etc.Burns: 10 per cent of all accidental deaths are due to burns.
Wars and Terrorist actions.Causation of accidents: Multiple
Human 90 per cent.
Environmental 10 per cent.