Drowning deaths in people with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the demographic characteristics and risk factors associated with death from drowning among people with epilepsy.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of medical examiner's investigations into deaths from drowning from Jan. 1, 1981, to Dec. 31, 1990.

SETTING

Alberta.

MEASURES

Personal data, medical history, circumstances surrounding the death, autopsy findings and results of postmortem toxicologic analyses.

RESULTS

Of 482 deaths from drowning in Alberta during the study period, 25 (5%) were considered by the medical examiner's office to be directly related to seizures. Fifteen (60%) of the 25 deaths occurred while the person was taking a bath, unsupervised. Only one person (4%) died while taking a shower. The remaining deaths occurred on a river or lake (16%), in a private pool (8%), in a public pool (8%) and in a jacuzzi (4%). Two people fell out of moving boats while having a seizure; neither had been wearing a personal flotation device. Nineteen (83%) of 23 people who had been receiving anticonvulsant drug therapy had undetectable or subtherapeutic levels of one or more of the drugs at autopsy. Ethanol was not a factor in any of the deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Seizure-related drownings represent a small but potentially preventable proportion of all drownings. Enhanced seizure control and compliance with anticonvulsant drug therapy may prevent some of these deaths. In addition, all people with epilepsy, regardless of the level of control of their condition, should be encouraged to take showers while sitting instead of baths. The presence of people in the same house who are not directly supervising the person in the bathroom does not protect against drowning. Personal flotation devices should be worn at all times during boating activities.