[Trauma and poisoning as causes of the demand for emergency services]

A retrospective survey of injuries that were treated during 1985-1986 in the emergency rooms of the four general hospitals managed by the Departamento del Distrito Federal was carried out. Data were classified by month, day of the week, shift, degree of alcohol intake, type of injury (according to the 9th revision of the International Disease Classification), age-group, sex, cause of the injury (accident or violence), and the area to where the patients were channeled after leaving the emergency room. The most affected age groups were 15-19 and 20-24 years. Males accounted for 70% of the cases. In this study we present information that will prove valuable for the planning, control, and evaluation of emergency care programs in hospitals specialized in injuries.