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Ambulance collisions in an urban environment
1Department of Public Health, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, USA.
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
|March 9, 1994
Summary
Ambulance collisions are more likely during lights and siren (LS) travel, with a significantly higher injury rate compared to non-LS travel. Interventions targeting driver skills and public awareness are recommended to reduce these incidents.
Area of Science:
- Emergency medical services
- Transportation safety
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Ambulance travel decisions, with or without lights and siren (LS), are frequent.
- Limited epidemiologic analysis exists comparing risks of LS versus non-LS ambulance travel.
- Characterizing ambulance collisions is crucial for safety improvements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize ambulance collisions.
- To assess the collision risk associated with lights and siren (LS) travel.
- To evaluate LS travel in an urban 9-1-1 environment.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of ambulance collisions.
- Study period: 27 months.
- Data source: San Francisco Department of Public Health Paramedic Division.
Main Results:
- Higher collision rate for LS travel (45.9/100,000) vs. non-LS travel (27.0/100,000), not statistically significant.
- Significantly higher injury rate for LS travel (22.2/100,000) vs. non-LS travel (1.5/100,000).
- Most collisions involved inattention, failure to yield, or unsafe parking; rarely unsafe speed. Crashes often occurred during daylight, dry weather, involving another vehicle.
Conclusions:
- Elevated risk of collision and injury exists during lights and siren (LS) travel.
- Interventions for driver skills and public awareness can mitigate collision risks.
- Reducing ambulance collisions enhances patient and public safety.
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