Lagos state ambulance service: a performance evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Public Health
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Nigeria faces a high road traffic accident (RTA) mortality rate, nearly double that of the USA.
• The first EMS system in Nigeria, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), was established in 2001.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the burden of RTAs in Lagos.
• To assess RTA call outcomes for LASAMBUS.
• To analyze LASAMBUS response times and identify causes for delay.

Main Methods:

• Review of 1352 completed LASAMBUS intervention forms from December 2017 to May 2018.
• Categorization of call outcomes into five groups (Addressed Crash, False Call, Crash Already Addressed, Did Not Respond, Other).
• Analysis of associations between causes for delay, response times, and call outcomes.

Main Results:

• LASAMBUS failed to address 53% of received RTA calls.
• False calls (26%) and calls where the crash was already addressed (22%) constituted a significant portion of unaddressed incidents.
• Traffic congestion was the primary self-reported cause for delay, accounting for 60% of recorded delays.

Conclusions:

• LASAMBUS response rates are substantially lower than those in high-income countries, contributing to higher RTA mortality.
• Improving LASAMBUS effectiveness requires addressing delays and enhancing public perception and standardized contact information.
• Enhanced EMS response is critical for improving health outcomes for RTA victims in Lagos.