Medical Causes and Emergency Basic Care In The Place Of Accidents in Road Traffic

Lenjani, Basri · 2020 · Crossref

DOI: 10.26717/bjstr.2020.27.004496

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Summary

This retrospective study investigates the medical causes contributing to road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Kosovo and emphasizes the importance of emergency basic care at accident scenes. Motivated by the significant global and local burden of RTAs, which cause injury, disability, and death, the research aims to identify specific health problems affecting drivers to reduce morbidity and mortality through improved first aid measures. The authors highlight that while RTAs account for a small percentage of total emergency cases, they represent a substantial portion of healthcare spending and severe trauma cases. The methodology involved a retrospective analysis of medical documentation from the Emergency Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) for the period of January to December 2019. The study sample consisted of 5,254 individuals injured in road traffic accidents, drawn from a total of 86,690 cases requiring medical assistance that year. Data regarding patient age, gender, pre-existing medical conditions, and reported symptoms prior to the accident were extracted and analyzed using Excel to determine frequencies and percentages. The study also compared these figures with data from 2018 to assess trends in accident frequency. The results indicate that 40.01% of the victims (2,102 cases) had underlying health problems, while 59.99% had no reported health issues. Among those with medical conditions, diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent cause, affecting 904 cases (17.20% of the total sample), followed by hypertension in 680 cases (12.94%) and visual problems in 160 cases (3.04%). Other conditions included epilepsy, heart attacks, and asthma. In terms of symptoms reported by drivers leading to loss of control, 57.61% cited loss of control as the primary issue, while 20.98% reported vertigo and 5.71% reported drowsiness. Demographically, the majority of victims were aged 15–29 years (55.19%) and male (76.66%). The study noted a slight decrease in the proportion of RTA injuries from 8.59% in 2018 to 6.06% in 2019. The authors conclude that medical conditions, particularly diabetes and hypertension, along with factors like alcohol, drugs, and fatigue, significantly impact road safety. They argue that current emergency response times in Kosovo are often inadequate due to logistical challenges. Consequently, the paper advocates for mandatory Basic Life Support (BLS) training for first responders, police, and the general public to improve on-scene care. Furthermore, the authors recommend stricter medical verification for driving licenses, the integration of first aid education into school curricula, and the establishment of comprehensive trauma care systems to mitigate the severe social and economic costs of road traffic accidents.

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• post crash care delays