KING COUNTY, WA - Today, Public Health - Seattle & King County's Medical Examiner's Office released its annual report documenting deaths and death trends for calendar year 2000. Of 12,907 deaths that occurred in King County in 2000, the Medical Examiner investigated 73 homicides, 201 fatal traffic accidents, 441 other kinds of fatal accidents, 178 suicides, and 234 drug deaths. The Medical Examiner does not investigate deaths of King County residents who die in another county.

"The Medical Examiner investigates all sudden, unexpected, suspicious and violent deaths that occur in King County," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "These investigations assist grieving families in finding closure by expediting settlement of insurance claims and estates and by assuring that appropriate criminal and civil actions are taken."

Medical Examiner investigations include deaths in King County 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 full report is available online at http://www.metrokc.gov/health/examiner

Key Findings

Of all King County deaths (12,907) in 2000, 6,555 or 51% were reported to the Medical Examiner. Based on review of the circumstances surrounding the death, the Medical Examiner investigated 1,506 of these reported deaths. 174 were the result of injuries sustained outside of King County, but where the death occurred in King County.

The Medical Examiner investigated:

• 178 suicides. 87 (49%) of the suicides were by the use of firearms. 31 (17%) were due to hanging, and 31 (17%) were due to drugs/poisons. There were 11 teenage suicides of youths 14 years through 19 years of age.
  
  Educating parents, peers, children of elderly parents and professionals that care and provide services for children and the elderly about the warning signs of suicide and resources available for help are recommended to reduce the incidence of youth and adult suicides.
  
  
• 234 drug-caused deaths in 2000 (177 accidents, 29 suicides, and 28 undetermined manner). This number equals the highest on record for King County, previously reached in 1998. There were 105 opiate deaths and 93 cocaine deaths, most often in combination with other drugs and alcohol. The 105 opiate deaths in 2000 were a decrease from 1999 (114) and 1998 (144). The 93 cocaine deaths in 2000 were an increase from 1999 (71) and 1998 (70).
  
  In addition to expanding treatment options, Public Health is launching an education and training campaign targeted to heroin users and their families that focuses on recognizing overdose signs, risk co-factors, and life saving response strategies. Overdose victims are much more likely to survive an overdose event when by-standers or observers call 911 for emergency medical assistance.
  
  
• 73 homicides in 2000, the lowest number of homicides investigated since 1989 (72). 66 homicides occurred in King County; seven were due to incidents that occurred outside of King County. 39 (53%) of the homicides were due to the use of firearms, and 16 (22%) were the result of stabbing. Three King County homicides were suspected child abuse.
  
  
• 201 fatal traffic accidents, either motor vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, or bicycle riders. 116 were King County traffic accidents, while 85 were from outside of King County. Of 145 motor vehicle occupants killed, 90 were drivers, 52 were passengers, and three were uncertain. 91 were not wearing seat belts or their seat belt status was uncertain. There were 32 pedestrians killed in 2000. Of the 13 motorcycle riders, eight were known to be wearing helmets.
  
  The King County Traffic Safety Coalition, of which Public Health is a convening member, is working with community partners and agencies to address the leading causes of traffic fatalities which include speeding, drinking drivers and failure to wear seat belts. Efforts include traffic safety emphasis patrols, safe driving policy promotion and community education.
  
  
• 441 other kinds of fatal accidents or unintentional injuries. 372 occurred in King County, while 69 were from outside of the County. After traffic accidents, the most common cause of accidental death was overdose of drugs and poisons (179). The second most common cause of accidental death was falls (150), mostly ground level. Burns (23) and drowning (24) were the next most common causes of unintentional injuries.
  
  Public Health's Emergency Medical Services division and local fire departments are working 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. In regard to drowning prevention, the Seattle-King County Drowning Prevention Coalition is using a multi-faceted approach to prevent drowning. They work to promote constant supervision of children around any water and frequent use of lifejackets, teens using lifejackets while on boats and when swimming in open water, and adults using lifejackets on small boats, kayaks and rafts where there is a chance they could end up in the water.
  
  
• 524 deaths due to natural causes that came under the Medical Examiner's review. 316 (60%) were due to cardiovascular disease. There were 19 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
  
  Recent work by Public Health - Seattle & King County and other researchers have shown that putting infants to sleep on their backs, not their stomachs, decreases the risk of SIDS. Since the "Back to Sleep" recommendations were first published in 1992, the SIDS rate in King County has dropped from 1.16 per thousand live births to 0.68 per thousand.
  
  
• 89 deaths classified as undetermined manner. Deaths were so classified where it could not be established whether the death was intentional or accidental. 29 of these were caused by drug overdoses. Two deaths of undetermined manner were due to firearms.