KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The number of drug-caused deaths and homicides handled by the Medical Examiner in King County have increased slightly over the previous year. Those are just two of the findings in the annual investigated deaths and death trends report for 2006 released today by Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Of the 2,055 deaths investigated by the Medical Examiner, there were 91 homicides, 211 fatal traffic crashes, 227 suicides and 721 other kinds of fatal accidents/injuries, of which 262 were drug/poison related.

“The Medical Examiner investigates all sudden, unexpected, suspicious and violent deaths,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “We can better understand and prevent premature and unintentional deaths by studying their circumstances and risk factors.”

“Although we count every person whose death is investigated in King County, they are each more than a number,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “They are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers who meant something to someone at some point in their lives, and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office provides an essential service to the community by investigating and determining how those deaths happened.”

“Our staff spends long hours investigating deaths to help grieving family members understand how and why their loved one died and, hopefully, find some closure,” said Dr. Richard Harruff, Chief Medical Examiner. “Investigations also help to speed up settlement of insurance claims and estates, and assure that any necessary criminal or civil actions are taken.”

The full 2006 annual report is available online at: www.metrokc.gov/health/examiner. All deaths investigated by the Medical Examiner occurred in King County, including deaths 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 Medical Examiner does not investigate deaths of King County residents who die in another county.

Of all King County deaths (12,966) in 2006, 8,791 or 68% were reported to the Medical Examiner based on criteria in state law. Based on review of the circumstances surrounding the death, the Medical Examiner investigated 2,055 of these reported deaths.

Some key findings in the death investigations:

• 227 suicides. The number of deaths due to suicide in 2006 was roughly the same as in 2004 and 2005 when 233 and 229 suicides were reported, respectively. Ninety-eight (43%) of the suicides in 2006 were by the use of firearms, two more than in 2005. Thirty-one (14%) were due to hanging, and 36 (16%) were due to drugs/poisons. There were eleven suicides of youths 19 years of age and younger. Forty-five (20%) were adults aged 60 or older.
  
  In order to reduce the incidence of youth and adult suicides, Public Health recommends educating parents, peers, children of elderly parents, and service providers about the warning signs of suicide and available resources (see www.suicidology.org or www.yspp.org). Public Health is a partner in the LOKITUP Campaign, which recommends storing all firearms locked and unloaded to help reduce suicide risk.
  
  
• 313 drug-caused deaths. The number of drug-caused deaths in 2006 has increased from 2005 when there were 273 drug-caused deaths reported. The biggest increase has occurred in deaths that involved prescription-type opiates. Deaths involving prescription opiates such as Oxycodone have more than doubled since 2001.
  
  
• 91 homicides. In comparison, 2005 had 80 homicides. In 2006, seventy-seven of the homicides were the result of incidents that occurred within King County. Of the 91 homicides in 2006, fifty-two of the homicides were due to the use of firearms.
  
  
• 211 fatal traffic crashes. This number includes motor vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians or bicycle riders. There were 144 deaths in 2006 due to traffic crashes in King County, compared to 152 deaths due to crashes in King County in 2005. Of motor vehicle occupants killed, 92 (65%) were drivers. Of cases in which restraint status was known, 29 drivers (35%) in vehicle deaths were not restrained. There were 33 pedestrians among the 211 fatal traffic deaths in 2006.
  
  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, intoxication, and failure to wear seat belts. Coalition efforts include organizing interagency emphasis patrols targeting impaired driving, speeding, and seat belt use.
  
  
• 721 other kinds of fatal accidents or unintentional injuries. 114 of these cases were the result of incidents that occurred outside of King County. The most common cause of accidental death was falls (308); 232 of the deaths caused by falls occurred in the age group 70 years and over. The next most common cause of accidental death was drugs and poisons (262). Drowning (30) and burns (23) were also common causes of unintentional injuries.
  
  Public Health's Emergency Medical Services Division and local fire departments work 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. The Fall Prevention Program has reduced fall incidence among people served by approximately 30%.
  
  Public Health’s Violence & Injury Prevention Unit co-chairs the Statewide Drowning Prevention Network. The Coalition uses a multi-faceted approach to prevent drowning deaths. It promotes these primary messages: know the water, know your limits, and wear a lifejacket when wading, swimming or boating in or around open water. Major improvements this past year included reinstatement of lifeguards at Lake Sammamish State Park and statewide passage of new residential building codes to protect small children from drowning.

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