[Injuries of bus passengers in an area of Copenhagen]

Medical records from the emergency rooms in an area of Copenhagen with 250,000 inhabitants were collected. Accidents in buses were counted and the injuries graded according to ISS. Over three months 37 casualties were found ranging in age from two to 94 years old. About half the accidents happened because of braking and about one-third happened when boarding or alighting, primarily among the elderly. The injuries were graded from ISS 1 to 18 with three injuries graded higher than 11. Of all the casualties, 17 had the treatment concluded in the emergency department, while 12 had to be admitted to hospital. Eight had ambulatory treatment afterwards. Comparing our results with other investigations made in Denmark and abroad we found a higher incidence of casualties. We found about three times as many accidents per inhabitant as in Odense and far more accidents per driven kilometre than an English investigation. In conclusion, more seats in the buses, precautions when braking and a less tight time schedule in order to allow enough time for passengers to get on and off could be recommended.