Fatalities caused by nonvenomous animals: a ten-year summary from Sweden.

This research article surveyed the deaths caused by nonvenomous animals in Sweden from 1975-1984, identifying horses and cattle as the main culprits, and discussing the circumstances of these fatalities as well as potential measures for prevention.

Scope and Method of the Study

• The research analyzed all 58 deaths in Sweden caused by nonvenomous animals over a ten-year timeframe from 1975 to 1984.
• All cases were scrutinized to understand the circumstances under which these fatalities occurred.

Results of the Study

• The study revealed that the majority of these deaths were caused by horses (38 cases) and cattle (16 cases). Other nonvenomous animals responsible for human deaths included a moose, a lion, a dog, and a ram, each accounting for one case.
• Upon investigation of horse-related fatalities, it was found that the most common cause was the horse bolting or rearing. This often resulted in the rider falling off the horse or the cart or sulky they were riding.
• Investigation of cattle-related accidents showed that fatalities mainly occurred due to the aggressive behaviour of the animal.
• The analysis also sheds light on the types of injuries sustained in these fatal accidents. For horse-related accidents, head injuries were most common, whereas for cattle-related accidents, head and chest injuries were equally common.

Recommendations from the Research

• The researchers propose that wearing a proper helmet could be the most important safety measure in horse-related activities, owing to the prevalence of head injuries in the analyzed fatalities.
• For cattle-related activities, the researchers suggest avoiding the herding of untethered bulls with cows due to the established risk of aggressive behaviour, which often leads to fatal injuries.