KING COUNTY, WA - Today, Public Health - Seattle & King County's Medical Examiner's Office released its annual report documenting deaths and death trends for the calendar year 2001. Of 13,012 deaths that occurred in King County in 2001, the Medical Examiner investigated 74 homicides, 220 fatal traffic accidents, 419 other kinds of fatal accidents, 183 suicides and 165 drug deaths. The Medical Examiner does not investigate deaths of King County residents who die in another county.

"The King County Medical Examiner's Office provides an important service to our residents. By studying deaths, we are better able to understand how to prevent many deaths and to improve the general health of our entire community," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

"The Medical Examiner investigates all sudden, unexpected, suspicious and violent deaths that occur in King County," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "These investigations assist grieving families in finding closure by expediting settlement of insurance claims and estates and by ensuring that appropriate criminal and civil actions are taken."

Medical Examiner investigations include deaths in King County where the incident leading to the death occurred outside of King County. In such cases, the injured person most often was transported to a hospital in King County, where the death occurred.

The full report is available online at http://www.metrokc.gov/health/med_ex

Key Findings

Of all King County deaths (13,012) in 2001, 6,758 or 52% were reported to the Medical Examiner. Based on review of the circumstances surrounding the death, the Medical Examiner investigated 1,578 of these reported deaths.

The Medical Examiner investigated:

• 183 suicides. Eighty-five (46%) of the suicides were by the use of firearms. Thirty-eight (21%) were due to hanging, and 20 (11%) were due to drugs/poisons. There were 13 suicides of youths 19 years of age and younger.

  Educating parents, peers, children of elderly parents and professionals that care for and provide services for children and the elderly about the warning signs of suicide and resources available for help are recommended to reduce the incidence of youth and adult suicides. Public Health is a partner in the LOKITUP Campaign. Campaign partners recommend storing all firearms locked and unloaded to help reduce suicide risk, particularly among youth.
  
  

• 165 drug-caused deaths in 2001 (124 accidents, 20 suicides, and 21 undetermined manner). Drug-caused deaths decreased in 2001 compared to 2000, when there were 234 drug-caused deaths. The 165 cases is the lowest number in King County since 1993. There were 64 opiate deaths and 46 cocaine deaths, most often in combination with other drugs and alcohol. The 64 opiate deaths in 2001 were a decrease from 2000 (105) and 1999 (114). The 46 cocaine deaths in 2001 were a decrease from 2000 (93) and 1999 (71).
  
  In 2001 and 2002, Public Health carried out an education and training campaign targeted at heroin users and their families with a focus on recognizing overdose signs, risk co-factors, and life saving response strategies. Overdose victims are much more likely to survive an overdose event when by-standers or observers call 911 for emergency medical assistance.
  
  
• 74 homicides. Sixty-six of the homicides were the result of incidents that occurred within King County. Forty-three (58%) of the homicides were due to the use of firearms, and eight (11%) were the result of stabbing.
  
  
• 220 fatal traffic accidents, either motor vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, or bicycle riders. One-hundred-forty-two deaths were due to traffic accidents in King County. Of motor vehicle occupants killed, 93 were drivers, 56 were passengers, and two were uncertain. Of the 93 vehicle driver deaths, 57 were either not wearing seat belts or it is not known if they were wearing seat belts. There were 40 pedestrians, 21 motorcycle riders and seven bicyclists killed in 2001.
  
  The King County Traffic Safety Coalition, a multi-agency group spearheaded by Public Health's Violence & Injury Prevention Unit, works to alleviate the leading causes of traffic fatalities. These causes include speed, impaired driving and failure to wear seat belts. Coalition efforts include organizing interagency DUI (driving under the influence) emphasis patrols, increasing public awareness of traffic safety issues, and reducing the number of DUI-related crashes on Highway 99.
  
  
• 419 other kinds of fatal accidents or unintentional injuries. Ninety-four of these cases were the result of incidents that occurred outside of King County. After traffic accidents, the most common cause of accidental death was falls (155); 131 of these deaths caused by falls occurred in the age group 60 years and over. The next most common cause of accidental death was drugs and poisons (124). Drowning (35) and burns (29) were also common causes of unintentional injuries.
  
  Public Health's Emergency Medical Services Division and local fire departments are working to reduce seniors falling in the home, which can result in fractures that subsequently lead to fatal health complications while convalescing. It is especially important that those who work with seniors and seniors themselves recognize that fall-related risks increase with age. As for drowning prevention, Public Health's Violence & Injury Prevention co-chairs the Seattle-King County Drowning Prevention Coalition. The Coalition uses a multi-faceted approach to prevent drowning deaths. They promote these primary messages: know the water, know your limits, and wear a lifejacket when wading, swimming or boating in or around open water. The coalition also recommends diligent supervision of children around all water and appropriate fencing of all swimming pools.
  
  
• 619 deaths due to natural causes that came under the Medical Examiner's review. Three-hundred-fifty-two cases were due to cardiovascular disease. There were 18 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
  
  Work by Public Health - Seattle & King County and other researchers have shown that putting infants to sleep on their backs, not their stomachs, decreases the risk of SIDS. Since the "Back to Sleep" recommendations were first published in 1992, the SIDS rate in King County has dropped significantly.
  
  
• 63 deaths classified as undetermined manner. Deaths were classified as undetermined manner if it could not be established whether the death was intentional or accidental. Twenty-one of these were caused by drug overdoses.