Alerting the public to fatal accidents while bathing.
Department of Social and Behavioural Medicine, Forensic Medicine
Background and objectives of activities
Sudden death in the bathroom (bathing death) occurs when a person enters a hot bathtub from a warm room via a cold changing room, causing a violent drop in blood pressure, resulting in stroke, ischaemic heart disease, fatal arrhythmia and death, or loss of consciousness, submergence and drowning. Bathing deaths are far more common in Japan than in other countries, and Kagoshima tends to have the highest incidence in Japan. It is estimated that the number of bathing deaths is more than 2.5 times the number of deaths in traffic accidents, and the increasing number of bathing deaths has become a social problem against the backdrop of an ageing society.
Although the pathogenesis of these deaths is still unknown, bathing deaths are preventable deaths. Starting in Kagoshima, we are developing a nationwide initiative to prevent bathing deaths, and are carrying out activities that will lead to a reduction in the number of bathing deaths in Japan as a whole.
Summary of Activities
The Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences investigated and statistically analysed the environmental temperature (maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature and diurnal temperature difference (difference between maximum and minimum temperature)) on the day of occurrence for 2157 of the total 2689 bathing death autopsies that occurred in Kagoshima Prefecture from 2006 to 2019, for which the date of occurrence (death) could be identified, Environmental temperatures at which bathing deaths are significantly more likely to occur were identified. In order to share the results obtained with the citizens of the prefecture, three indicators of 'Danger, Warning and Caution' are issued as bathing alert information on sector websites, TV and newspapers, just like weather forecasts.
Expected Benefits
This initiative could significantly reduce the number of bathing deaths. Moreover, this verification can be carried out not only in Kagoshima, but also throughout Japan, so it is an initiative that can be spread from Kagoshima to the rest of the country. It is hoped that our activities will provide a clue to 'building a town where all people can continue to live in peace'.