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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM stadium patient evacuation: A system testing simulation-based exercise
Padarath Gangaram, Wayne Thomson1, Brendon Morris1
1Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service, Doha, Qatar. Address: HMC Ambulance Service Head Quarter, Al Ryyan Road, Medical City, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
Qatar Medical Journal
|January 6, 2023
Summary
Helicopter transport from Al Bayt Stadium to Hamad General Hospital was only marginally faster than ambulance. The study highlights that ambulances, without emergency operations, could be quicker for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 medical evacuations.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Care
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Qatar's health sector prepared for the FIFA 2022 World Cup by testing emergency response capabilities.
- Simulation exercises evaluated patient evacuation processes from stadiums to trauma centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the total evacuation time of a patient from Al Bayt Stadium (ABS) to Hamad General Hospital (HGH) using helicopter versus ground ambulance.
- To assess the efficiency of different transport modes for critical medical evacuations during the FIFA World Cup.
Main Methods:
- A controlled simulation-based pilot study was conducted.
- A standardized scenario of a player with a leg fracture and concussion was used.
- Evacuation times were compared for a ground ambulance and a LifeFlight helicopter from ABS to HGH Trauma Resuscitation Unit (TRU).
Main Results:
- Helicopter transport (LifeFlight) was 63% faster during the transportation phase.
- However, the patient reached the HGH TRU sooner via ground ambulance.
- The overall mission time was only 6 minutes and 22 seconds faster using the helicopter.
Conclusions:
- Helicopter transport from ABS to HGH TRU offered only a marginal time improvement over ground ambulance.
- Ground ambulances, even without emergency operations, could be faster.
- Helicopters may not significantly improve access to definitive care for critical patients during the FIFA World Cup unless for mass casualty incidents.
