Environmental Deaths in Criminology Essay

Introduction

Environmental deaths refer to deaths that are as a consequence of natural factors or calamities. Examples of the causes of such fatalities include drowning, lightning, hypothermia and hyperthermia. These are elements which cannot be controlled by man. However, they can be looked at to identify ways of encountering them with reduced chances of fatalities. It has been shown that some of the extreme weather and environmental conditions that have become more common in modern times are as a result of human activity. Man has tampered with the environment to a high degree, and this has resulted to issues such as extreme temperatures, storms, hurricanes, droughts and excessive precipitation in form of rain or ice. Extreme temperature situations have been blamed for hypothermia and hyperthermia cases. Most cases of drowning have been as a result of excessive precipitation. However, cases involving individuals such as children have been in environments that are safe for mature persons. Most young ones have drowned in relatively small water pools or even bathtubs in their homes (Ferrell, 2010).

Homicide refers to the case of a person taking the life of another human. There are various forms of homicide including murder. This means that homicide is not at all times a penal act under the criminal law but for the events of a given homicide falling under proscribed deed(s). One of the most acknowledged validations is self defense which offers that: in a given case, an individual is reasonable in killing another to keep their own life from lethal assault.

Forms of environmental deaths

Drowning

This refers to death as a result of asphyxia which results from suffocation due to water getting into the lungs and putting a stop to the intake of oxygen. This leads to a condition of oxygen deficiency causing a very strong drive to correct the deficiency, commonly referred to as cerebral hypoxia. Near drowning is another occurrence in the same line and refers to the endurance of a drowning experience entailing a cognitive state or water inhalation and can result to severe derived complications such as death following the occurrence.

Statistics from the World Health Organization show that drowning is the third leading source of accidental injury demise world over. It accounts for 7% of the entire injury linked demises, leaving out the ones as a result of natural calamities. In a number of countries, drowning is among the foremost causes of demise for children below the age of 12 years. For instance, in the United States of America, drowning is the second foremost basis of demise in children under 12 (Ferrell, 2010). The frequency of drowning in populaces the world over, contrasts broadly and it relates to their access to water, weather conditions and the public swimming practices.

The occurrence of drowning is rapid and hushed even though it may be led by anguish which is more able to be seen. An individual drowning is not in a position to scream or call for help. This is because they are not able to get sufficient air to breath. The unconscious drowning reaction is the final set of involuntary responses in the 20 – 60 seconds prior to getting submerged and to an unskilled person this can appear like composed calm behavior. Lifesavers and other individuals skilled in rescue are trained to make out drowning people by looking out for these unconscious responses. Drowning takes place more regularly in males and the juvenile. Statistics show that 10% of children below 5 years of age have been in a condition with a high danger of drowning.

Professionals distinguish between three foremost forms of drowning-associated urgent situation(s). The first one is distress and it refers to a case where a person(s) is in danger but still has the capability to gesture for assistance and take actions. The second category is drowning where person(s) are stifled of oxygen and in impending risk of death in a matter of seconds. This is further classed into two groups. The foremost group is submissive drowning where an individual who has been submerged or is in the process of being submerged, exhibits no motion. Casualties of calamity, coma, or unexpected therapeutic state may fall into this group. The second group consists of individuals in active drowning. These are the individuals who do not know how to swim and the exhausted who can’t hold their head above water and are choking due to being short of air. Impulsively, individuals in such circumstances show well recognized signs in the last seconds before sinking. Such persons are not in a position to call for aid, reach for lifesaving equipment, or call people even feet away.

Lightning

Lightning refers to an atmospheric static ejection going with thunder which normally takes place during thunderstorms and at times from volcanic outbreaks or dust storms. From this release of atmospheric electricity, a leader of a bolt of lightning can move at velocities of 220,000 kilometers in an hour. Temperature levels resulting from such instances can be as high as 30,000 ⁰C.

Lightning is a cause of death. It causes more deaths every year as compared to snowstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes. It is the second largest weather-associated killer after floods. Statistics from the United States National Weather Service indicate that 73 people are lost as a result of lightning annually, with hundreds more putting up with life-incapacitating injuries. Some of the difficulties associated with lightning strikes include; memory losses, concentration deficits, sleep disorders, lack of sensation, and wooziness.

The uppermost death occurrences as a result of lightning in the US are in Florida (National Lightning Safety Institute, 2011).

Hypothermia

This refers to a state in which inward heat levels plummet below the essential temperature for common metabolism and body functions which is specified as 35 ⁰C. The human body temperature is normally sustained at close to a steady level, ranging from 36.5 to 37.5 ⁰C. This is attained by way of biological homeostasis. In cases where one is subjected to cold conditions and internal homeostasis is not in a position to top off the heat that is being mislaid, a fall in core temperature results (Mackensen, McDonagh, & Warner, 2009, p. 342). As this takes place, typical indicators come about and they include shivering and intellectual confusion. As heat levels go down even more, physiologic systems waver including heart rate and respiration. In the last phases of this condition, the brain stem results in a hideaway-like conduct.

Hyperthermia

Hyperthermia refers to a state of high body temperature brought about by failed thermoregulation. This condition comes about when the body emits or takes in extra heat than it can fritter away. When the advanced body heat levels are adequately high, hyperthermia is a therapeutic urgent situation and calls for urgent handling to put a stop to disability or death.

The most widespread causes of hyperthermia are heat stroke and poor responses to drugs. Heat stroke refers to a severe state of hyperthermia that is due to extended contact with too much heat and moisture. The heat normalizing mechanisms of the body, in the long run, get overpowered and become incapable of efficiently tackling the heat resulting to a hysterical rise of body temperature. The most usual indication of hyperthermia is a hot and dry skin. The skin may turn red and blood vessels enlarge in a bid to enhance heat loss to the surrounding. The lips of a person in such a state may at times become swollen (Axelrod & Diringer, 2008, p. 585). The skin of a hyperthermia sufferer feels dry since their body is not able to cool through perspiration.

Failure of the temperature situation to improve, results to vomiting accompanied by nausea and headaches. This can cause fainting or wooziness, particularly if the victim gets onto his feet rapidly. With continued high temperature levels the victim may get bewildered or aggressive and may appear to be under the influence of alcohol. The rates of respiration and the heart will go up and in the end body organs begin to give in leading to death.

Statistics of environmental deaths in the Texas

The State of Texas in the United States experiences a number of these calamities and this can be attributed to the fact that it undergoes various seasons ranging from hot summers to cold winters. Drowning becomes one of the foremost causes of environmental deaths in the season(s) of summer. Water sports are particularly popular during summer as people are out to keep excessive heat at bay. They thus, spend a considerable time in pools, lakes and oceanfront beaches. The majority of drowning deaths reported usually involves children and is normally more or less than 100 in number. Teenagers and grown up people who lose their lives in such cases are almost a quarter of this with the majority being American males.

Statistics from the year 1991 to 2004 show that there occurred 258 deaths in that period as a result of contact with too much natural heat in Texas. In the same time span, deaths as a result of contact with extremely cold temperatures were to the tune of 137 (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2010). Due to the fact that mortality rates founded on small numbers can be misleading, rates have not been capture by researchers. Heat-related deaths begin mainly from April and peak in August. They then dwindle by October with no reported cases in the months from November again until April.

In the period spanning from 1990 to 2003, Texas reported 52 deaths resulting from lightning. The state ranks second after Florida and this can be attributed to experiences of storms and torrential rains.

Conclusion

Environmental deaths cannot be directly blamed on humans since the causal factors are natural. On the other hand, this does not mean that there is nothing that people can do to reduce and eventually do away with deaths resulting from these natural occurrences. Drowning deaths can be stopped by ensuring that children are not left alone around water bodies. Grown persons who do not know how to swim should be trained appropriately before taking the plunge. Stormy waters should be avoided and well-skilled lifeguards have to be employed around water zones where people go for leisure.

Lightning-prone areas need to have buildings and other structures erected with lightning arrestors. People living in such areas need to be trained adequately on how to ensure they are safe at times when lightning is likely to occur.

The people in areas that experience excessively hot and/or cold temperatures as well need proper enlightenment on how to ensure they are safe during such times.

Reference List

Axelrod, Y., Diringer, MN. (May 2008). Temperature management in acute neurologic disorders. Neurol Clin 26 (2): 585–603, xi.

Ferrell, S. (2010). Summertime Means More Drowning Deaths in Texas. Web.

Mackensen, G., McDonagh, L., Warner, D. (March 2009). Perioperative hypothermia: use and therapeutic implications. J. Neurotrauma 26 (3): 342–58.

National Lightning Safety Institute. (2011). Lightning Fatalities, Injuries, and Damage Reports in the United States. Web.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2010). Temperature-Related Deaths. Web.