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The State of Alaska hes a definite need for All Terrain Vehicles , and supports the federal government in its efforts to examine the safety factors , and to explore and recommend possible solutions to the morbidity and mortality rates of some ATV users ,

Our state epidemiologist , with cooperation from the Centers for Disease Control , is in the process of conducting a study on ATV injuries in Alaska for 1981 and 1984 . I would like to offer the preliminary results of that study and to briefly explain an accident prevention effort that has been initiated ,

in Alaska at least 20 deaths and 638 injuries - - 6 of them permanently disabling neurological injuries - - were associated with 3 - wheel all - terrain vehicles " 3 - wheelers " or ATVS ) from January 1983 through December 1984 .

of the 20 fatalítjes , 11 ( 55 % ) were males , Ages at death ranged from 12 to 53 years ; 15 ( 75 % ) were in the 15 - 34 year age group . Eleven ( 55 % ) deaths occurred during a 3 - month period in 1983 , no similar cluster was observed in 1984 . A11 but 3 fatat incidents occurred in the southcentral and southwestern portions of the State .

Of the 20 fatalities , 10 diad as a result of a direct impact to the head but only two wore helmets . Four others died after being knocked uncon scious ; two drowned in shallow water , one landed face down in sand , and one died because the machine ' s handlebars compressed the trachea . Nineteen of the victims were operators of the vehicle ; in one instance both the driver and his passenger were killed .

B109d alcohol levels were measured in 11 individuals who surytręd less than 4 hours Pollowing injury , in 8 individuals , the BAC exceeded 100mg % , the level of intoxication . Two others had brood alcohol detected , but at levels below 100mg % . In 9 1nstances , blood alcohol efther was not mesured or persons died 4 or more hours following injury 30 blood alcohol concen trations ( BACS ) obtained at autopsy may not reflect accurately the BAC at the time of the incident ,

All individuals admitted to the hospital for ATV - 8550ciated injuries were Identified . Medical records from a1l Indian Health Service Hospitals and from 2 of the 3 major private referral hospitals in the State were re viewed . During the two - year period , 324 patients were hospitalized for

ATY - related injuries , with the average duration of stay being 8 . 5 days . 0p . . . the 324 hospitalizations , 113 ( 35 % ) occurred as a result of frac

ture / distocations of the lower extremity .

Six patients , tanging in age from 21 to 51 years , were hospttalized as a result of severe head or spinal cord injuries , are now permanently dis . abled , and will require long - term sk117ed care . In one private hospital , 43 of 65 ( 66 % } inpattents required a surgical procedure under general anesthesta . Although data on outpatients are far less complete , 214 ATV - associated injuries have been documented during the study period .

Based on the current estimates for hospital cars in Alaska ( average of $ 578 per patient day ) , ATV - a330ciated injuries accounted for about $ 1 . 6 million in health care dollars spant for inpatient care alone during 1983 - 84 .