Epidemiology of subway-related fatalities in New York City, 1990-2003 |
| |
Authors: | Robyn RM Gershon [Author Vitae] Julie M Pearson [Author Vitae] [Author Vitae] David Vlahov [Author Vitae] [Author Vitae] Melissa Tracy [Author Vitae] [Author Vitae] Sandro Galea [Author Vitae] |
| |
Institution: | a Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY b New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY c Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ d University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI e Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY |
| |
Abstract: | ProblemSubway transit is a relatively safe mode of transportation, yet compared to all other forms of mass transit in the United States (U.S.), subways have the highest fatality rate. The aim of this paper is to characterize subway-related fatalities in order to identify opportunities for risk reduction.MethodMedical examiner records for all New York City (NYC) subway-related deaths (1990-2003) were reviewed. Data were abstracted on decedents' demographics and autopsy findings, including laboratory findings.ResultsThere were 668 subway-related fatalities, of these, 10 (1.5%) were homicides, 343 (51.3%) were determined to be suicides, and 315 (47.2%) were accidental. Although decedent characteristics varied between fatality categories, they were not particularly informative with regard to prevention.ConclusionPrevention strategies that focus on structural controls are likely to be most efficacious in improving the overall safety of the NYC subway systems.Impact on industryThese findings suggest that structural rather than individual-level interventions would be most successful in preventing subway fatalities. |
| |
Keywords: | Subway Fatalities Epidemiology Suicides Accidents |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|