NEW YORK, Mar 06 (Reuters Health) - Nature lovers should think twice before boozing it up in the great outdoors--doing so may increase your risk of death or injury, according to new study findings.

Dr. Torrey Goodman and colleagues from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson and the Southern Arizona Rescue Association in Pima County evaluated 100 deaths that occurred in the Pima County wilderness over a 13-year period.

Half of those who died had measurable levels of alcohol in their blood and 12% showed signs of drug use, the researchers report in the March issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

"It was estimated that alcohol was 'a very probable' or 'a probable' causative factor in 23 (40%) of the 59 unintentional trauma deaths, and in 1 (8.3%) of the 12 medically related deaths," the authors write.

Goodman and colleagues note that the wilderness covered in the study included desert, canyons, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, rivers and caves.

Incidents near waterfalls were particularly prevalent. The researchers documented 21 deaths in one area where inebriated individuals could have easily lost their grip on slippery rocks, falling to their deaths below.

"Many wilderness deaths are related to incidents, especially falls, involving alcohol use. Once the accident or injury had occurred, the majority of deaths are immediate, or at least before the arrival of medical personnel," the authors note.

"Higher levels of medical care would not have improved the outcome of those who did survive long enough to receive medical care. Therefore, primary efforts to reduce (deaths) in the wilderness should be directed toward prevention, especially diminishing alcohol use in users of wilderness areas," Goodman and colleagues conclude.

• More news on Accidents
• More news on Alcohol and Youth
• More news on Sports Injuries

Related MEDLINEplus Pages:

• Accidents
• Alcohol and Youth
• Sports Injuries