ADULT THERMAL-INJURIES IN NEW-ZEALAND RESULTING IN DEATH AND HOSPITALIZATION

This paper provides an overview of thermal injury resulting in death o r hospitalization in New Zealand adults, defined as age 15 years and o ver. For the 10-year period 1978-1987, there were 493 adult thermal in jury deaths resulting in an overall rate of 2.1 per 100 000 person-yea rs (95%CI: 1.9-2.3). For the year 1988, there were 644 hospitalization s resulting in a rate of 25.1 per 100 000 (95%CI: 23.2-27.1). The high est rates of death and hospitalization were observed in the elderly (6 5 years of age and over). Young males (15-29 years) also had a very hi gh rate of hospitalization. Residential fire was the most common type of burn event resulting in death (44%), and smoking materials were the most common source of ignition in fatal residential fires (37%). Hot liquids were the most common source of thermal energy for the hospital ized injuries (34%). Typical scenarios involved burns from hot water e xpelled from automobile radiators, from hot water use in the workplace , from hot beverages, and from household hot tap-water. The epidemiolo gy of the adult thermal injuries in New Zealand is similar to that rep orted in other developed countries. Opportunities and strategies for t he prevention of these injuries are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd for ISBI, All rights reserved.