Causes of Death of Active Duty Personnel in the Canadian Forces

This is an epidemiological study of all causes of death in active duty Canadian Forces personnel over 21 years (1983 to 2003). During this time, the Canadian Forces were deployed on numerous peacekeeping missions all over the world, and were deployed as part of the NATO mission to Afghanistan following 9/11. Despite this, combat caused very few deaths over-all in Canadian Forces personnel. In fact, most deaths were from motor vehicle crashes, cancer, ischemic heart disease and suicide. Future military deaths may be avoided by focusing on smoking cessation, alcohol counselling, safe-driving programs and mental health initiatives.

Homer Tien is a general and trauma surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada. He completed his surgical training and his Master''s degree in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Toronto. As well, he serves in the Canadian Force and has deployed to Afghanistan.