Traffic accidents were the top killer in Shenzhen over the past three years, according to the 120 emergency center Wednesday.

Road accidents accounted for almost 29 percent of the deaths, with deaths from other forms of injuries accounting for 14.52 percent and heart attacks 10.22 percent.

Traffic accident deaths include those who died at the scene or later from injuries.

According to the report, 90 percent of the deaths over the past three years in the city were in emergencies.

The high percentage of emergency deaths sent an alarm to all medical staff working in emergency rooms.

The report also said 40 percent of those killed were aged 20 to 40, one of three vulnerable age groups. The other age groups were under 12 months and over 70.

The top three killers in Shenzhen dropped to the fifth place in the national list, in which cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were at the top, said Zhu Hong, director of the emergency center.

Zhu said the situation could be attributed to Shenzhen’s average age — which was below the national average — as well as the high pressure of work. The high percentage of young deaths attracted public concern, said Zhu.

The top 10 killers disclosed in the report also include poisonings, drowning, electric shock, cancers and respiratory diseases among others.

(Shenzhen Daily January 21, 2005)