Article

Changes in injury patterns and severity in a helicopter air-rescue system over a 6-year period.

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Wilderness and Environmental Medicine (impact factor: 0.94). 02/2006; 17(1):8-14. pp.8-14
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT To study the influence of current trends in alpine sports on the frequency and types of injuries handled by a helicopter-based emergency medical system (HEMS) in a wilderness mountain region.
A retrospective review of medical reports at a single emergency helicopter port (Christophorus-1 air rescue) in Innsbruck, Austria, was conducted for comparison between two 3-year periods (1998-2000 and 2001-2003).
Comparing the two 3-year periods, the proportion of leisure-time injuries leading to HEMS activation increased, whereas the frequency of life-threatening injuries significantly declined (P = .001). There was significant increase in injuries during mountain hiking and rock climbing (P = .002), during swimming (P = .013), and in avalanches (P = .019). Most injuries (70.1%) were recorded for skiers, and 68.3% involved tourists. During the investigation period, the high National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics scores showed a decreasing trend, whereas Glasgow Coma Scale scores and low National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics scores tended to increase (P = .048).
For the HEMS in this study, there has been an increasing number of calls for help from persons involved in outdoor leisure activities. As the number of life-threatening injuries declines, HEMSs more frequently serve as means of rescue rather than as providers of emergency treatment.

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    Travis W Heggie, Michael E Amundson
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    Travis W. Heggie PhD, Tracey M. Heggie
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Keywords

3-year periods
 
alpine sports
 
Christophorus-1 air rescue
 
current trends
 
decreasing trend
 
emergency treatment
 
Glasgow Coma Scale scores
 
helicopter-based emergency medical system
 
HEMS activation
 
investigation period
 
leisure-time injuries
 
life-threatening injuries
 
life-threatening injuries declines
 
low National Advisory Committee
 
National Advisory Committee
 
outdoor leisure activities
 
retrospective review
 
single emergency helicopter port
 
two 3-year periods
 
wilderness mountain region