HISTORY OF HIGH-VELOCITY IMPACT WATER TRAUMA AT LETTERMAN-ARMY-MEDICAL-CENTER - A 54-YEAR EXPERIENCE WITH THE GOLDEN-GATE BRIDGE

Three time frames were studied during the 54-year history of the Golde n Gate Bridge from 1937 to 1991. During that period of time, there wer e 918 documented jumps from this majestic structure to the water 250 f eet below. The last 15 years provided us with 297 consecutive patients , all brought to one institution, which were retrospectively reviewed and categorized as to site and type of injury for survivors and fatali ties. This is the largest high-velocity water impact trauma series in the world. Certain unique characteristics of the Golden Gate Bridge an d the San Francisco Bay lend itself to this extremely popular and succ essful form of suicide. These characteristics, as well as personal fac tors of free-fall water impact from each patient, are summarized and d iscussed in this paper.