Injuries and Risk Factors for Injuries from the 29 May 1982 Tornado, Marion, Illinois

• Published in: International journal of epidemiology 1989-03, Vol.18 (1), p.213-219
• Main Authors: DUCLOS, PHILIPPE J, ING, ROY T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Disasters; Emergency and intensive care: injuries, diseases due to physical agents. Diving. Drowning. Disaster medicine; Emergency Service, Hospital; Epidemiologic Methods; Housing; Humans; Illinois; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Posture; Risk Factors; Telephone; Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology; Wounds and Injuries - etiology
• ISSN: 0300-5771; 1464-3685
• DOI: 10.1093/ije/18.1.213

Duclos P J (Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Center for Environmental Health and Injury Control, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA) and Ing R T. Injuries and risk factors for injuries from the 29 May 1982 tornado, Marion, Illinois. International Journal of Epidemiology 1989, 18: 213–219. On 29 May 1982, a tornado struck Marion, Illinois. As a result, ten people were killed, 38 were hospitalized, and 196 were examined in hospital emergency rooms. In order to describe injuries and to identify risk factors that might have increased or reduced the risk of injuries, we (1) conducted a telephone survey of all persons we could identify who were in the path of the tornado and (2) reviewed the emergency room logs and records and admission files of hospitals that provided initial care. Overall, 19.3% of people who were in the path of the tornado were injured during the impact. Only 39.0% of people examined in emergency rooms were injured as a direct result of the impact. The remainder were injured while rescuing, cleaning up, or just walking in the disaster area. Behaviours that were most protective were being in a house on the lowest floor, staying underground in a basement, protecting one's body with something like a blanket, and staying away from windows. Neither lying down nor opening doors or windows seemed to decrease the risk of being injured. Our results emphasize the need for early warnings and public education about protective behaviours.