PURPOSE: To investigate the factors associated with discharge of children from the emergency department (ED) after interfacility transfer. METHODS: We reviewed consecutive children who visited the ED via interfacility transfer from January 2014 to December 2015. The children were divided into two groups according to whether they were discharged from the ED or not (the discharge and admission groups), and their characteristics were compared. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with discharge of children from the ED after interfacility transfer. RESULTS: Of the 999 transferred children, 426 (42.6%) were discharged. Compared to the admission group, these children showed older age, more frequent transfers from clinics and arrivals between 16 h and 20 h, shorter stay in the ED, and less frequent surgical abdomen. We found that age (3 to 6 years; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–2.6, compared with 0 to 2 years), diagnosis (trauma; OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5–4.0, compared with gastrointestinal diseases), and referring hospital (primary clinic; OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 3.1–9.4, compared with tertiary hospitals) were the factors. CONCLUSIONS: The children who aged 3 to 6 years, had trauma or underwent transfers from primary clinics were more likely to be discharged at the ED. Considering these factors, we should reduce unnecessary transfers.
Abdomen ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Patient Discharge ; Patient Transfer ; Pediatrics

PURPOSE: In-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often performed on patients lying on a bed or stretcher, which involves using a step stool. However, as current CPR training uses mannequins placed on a floor, the quality of CPR in simulated cardiac arrest scenarios on a stretcher versus the floor were analyzed. METHODS: This study was performed during the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for sixth grade medical students. The students were trained using Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines given by the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2010. Simulated CPR was performed in the 1 rescuer-mode (30:2 compression to ventilation ratio) for 5 cycles, while either standing atop a step stool beside the stretcher or kneeling on the floor, and the position order was randomized. The OSCE score and variables related to CPR quality were compared. RESULTS: Among the 59 students enrolled, 47 students were included for analysis. No significant difference in OSCE scores was found between the groups that performed CPR on a stretcher versus the floor (89.4+/-9.1 vs. 88.1+/-8.4, respectively, p=0.610). In addition, variables related to CPR quality did not differ between the groups that performed CPR on a stretcher versus the floor (following results listed respectively): correct compression rate (%) (54.8+/-42.3 vs. 70.0+/-34.9, p=0.185); compression rate (n/min) (127+/-11.3 vs. 126+/-13.3, p=0.792); correct depth (%) (69.8+/-40.6 vs. 78.6+/-33.6, p=0.429); mean compression depth (mm) (51.1+/-7.2 vs. 53.0+/-6.0, p= 0.337); correct release (%) (99.3+/-2.9 vs. 99.1+/-3.0, p=0.875); correct hand position (%) (83.2+/-32.3 vs. 86.7+/-27.5, p=0.694); total hands off time (sec.) (79.9+/-19.5 vs. 70.4+/-15.6, p=0.077). CONCLUSION: Medical students effectively perform CPR on a stretcher or the floor. Thus, current CPR training methods appear adequate and may be maintained.
American Heart Association ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Clinical Competence ; Deception ; Education, Medical ; Hand ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Manikins ; Methods ; Students, Medical ; Thorax* ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: Accidental out-of-hospital deliveries are generally associated with high rates of perinatal morbidity and mortality. To determine the status of accidental out-of-hospital deliveries transferred by emergency medical services (EMS), we analyzed the records of EMS runsheets in two South Korean provinces, Gyeonggi and Gangwon. METHODS: The EMS runsheets of patients who were more than 20 weeks pregnant and had delivery-related symptoms between January 2012 and December 2013 in Gyeonggi and Gangwon province were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed the characteristics of accidental out-of-hospital deliveries by comparing these with those non out-of-hospital deliveries. RESULTS: There were 1,426 urgent dispatches during the study period. In 137 (9.6%) out-of-hospital deliveries, which took place prior to arriving at the hospital, and 48 of these were attended by EMS providers. The accidental out-of-hospital deliveries were more frequent during night time and more common among multiparous and younger age women; however, these observation was without any significance with respect to premature birth. The rate of the accidental out-of-hospital deliveries was not significantly different between rural and urban areas. Twenty cases of complication, including 10 arrests of neonates and EMS providers managed them by the following intervention: reduction of nuchal cord, umbilical cord clamping and cut, warming-up of and stimulating the neonates warms, using oropharyngeal suction, O₂ supplication, and neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSION: As the rate of accidental out-of-hospital deliveries in patients who were transferred by EMS is higher than the rate of out-of-hospital deliveries in general, EMS providers should be fully trained. Moreover, there is the need for more completive records and continuous education.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Constriction ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mortality ; Nuchal Cord ; Obstetric Labor Complications ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies ; Suction ; Umbilical Cord

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the appropriateness of transport of children via emergency medical service providers (EMSP) according to the decision-maker on referred hospitals (EMSP [EMSP group] vs. guardians [user group]). METHODS: We analyzed first aid records by EMSP for children aged 15 years or younger in Gyeonggi province, Korea, from January 2012 through December 2013. We obtained the following data: scene, symptom, type (high-level [regional/local emergency medical centers] or not) and location (out-of-province or not) of referred hospitals, injury, level of consciousness (alert or not), and prehospital triage results by EMSP (emergent/less emergent or not). RESULTS: A total of 50,407 children were included, of whom 37,626 (74.6%) belonged to the user group. Overall, the most common scene, symptom, and type and location of referred hospitals were home (57.0%), pain (33.3%), and inside-theprovince and local emergency medical centers (44.2%), respectively. The user group showed less frequent injury (P < 0.001), decreased level of consciousness (P < 0.001), and no significant difference in the triage results (P = 0.074). This group showed more frequent transport to high-level and out-of-province emergency medical centers (P < 0.001), and longer transport (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The user group showed more frequent transport to high-level or remote referred hospitals without more critical prehospital triage results. Guardian-directed transport of children might be associated with the inappropriate transport of children via EMSP.
Ambulances ; Child* ; Consciousness ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Epidemiology ; First Aid ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Transportation of Patients ; Triage

Purpose: To assess the effect of medically-attended injury (MAI) on the use of home safety equipment, we analyzed the differences in parents’ perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment depending on the children’s MAI experiences. Methods: From March 2018 through February 2019, we surveyed parents of children aged 5 years or younger via a mobile phone. The parents were divided into the MAI and non-MAI groups. The mobile survey focused on the perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment (if not used, barriers). Results: Of the 204 parents, 75 (36.8%) reported their children’s MAI, comprising the MAI group. This group used the safety equipment more frequently than the non-MAI group (odds ratio, 7.03; 95% confidence interval, 3.39-14.59; P < 0.001). No significant differences between the 2 groups were found in the perception and attitude about injury prevention, barriers to the use of the equipment, and the type of the equipment in use. Conclusion Parents’ experience in their children’s MAIs was associated with the use of home safety equipment, but it did not affect their perception and attitude about injury prevention. A visit to the emergency department with MAI is an opportunity for education on injury prevention and changes of the attitude.

Purpose: The optimal time for home safety intervention for children’s injury prevention is during the injury-related visits to emergency departments. The authors investigated the effect of home safety equipment provision on the guardians’ perception of injury prevention and attitude toward it, and the use of home safety equipment. Methods: We conducted a double blind randomized controlled study on guardians of children aged 7 years or younger who visited the emergency department with accidental injuries. After completing the structured, pre-intervention survey on home safety, the guardians were randomly assigned to receive either home safety equipment (the intervention group) or stationery (the control group) in the same opaque boxes enclosing pamphlets about home safety education. After 4 weeks, the guardians were contacted for the post-intervention survey. The questionnaires for the latter survey consisted of the same contents with 2 added questions regarding the use of new home safety equipment after intervention. Logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome (i.e., behavioral change). Results: From April through October 2019, we approached 972 guardians. Of these, 59 guardians answered both pre- and post-intervention surveys. No differences were found in the perception and attitude, and use of home safety equipment between the intervention and control groups at the pre- and post-intervention surveys. No variables were associated with the primary outcome. Conclusion Provision of home safety equipment may be inadequate to improve guardians’ behaviors about prevention of domestic injuries.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the activities of Disaster Medical Assistance Team and national emergency medical center in the fire at a women’s hospital on December 14, 2019, and to suggest an improvement plan for the special disastrous situation. Methods: We reviewed the transfer records of national emergency medical center, medical records of regional emergency medical center, and records of each patient’s prognosis of the women’s hospital, retrospectively. Triage of casualties was conducted according to SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport) method. Results: The fire was extinguished early and there was no victim with significant carbon monoxide intoxication. Among 228 casualties, there were 143 patients of the women’s hospital. Two patients were classified as immediate, 55 patients including pregnant women, newborns, and mothers were classified as delayed, and 171 casualties including newborns and mothers were classified as minimal. Among 66 newborns, 40 newborns were transferred to the regional Emergency Medical Center, and a second triage was conducted by doctors there. Conclusion Although there was no significant victim, physically and socially susceptible people such as pregnant women, newborns, and mothers were included in this accident. We recommend establishing a standard of disaster response for special population and improving our capability at a national level.

Purpose: To assess the effect of medically-attended injury (MAI) on the use of home safety equipment, we analyzed the differences in parents’ perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment depending on the children’s MAI experiences. Methods: From March 2018 through February 2019, we surveyed parents of children aged 5 years or younger via a mobile phone. The parents were divided into the MAI and non-MAI groups. The mobile survey focused on the perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment (if not used, barriers). Results: Of the 204 parents, 75 (36.8%) reported their children’s MAI, comprising the MAI group. This group used the safety equipment more frequently than the non-MAI group (odds ratio, 7.03; 95% confidence interval, 3.39-14.59; P < 0.001). No significant differences between the 2 groups were found in the perception and attitude about injury prevention, barriers to the use of the equipment, and the type of the equipment in use. Conclusion Parents’ experience in their children’s MAIs was associated with the use of home safety equipment, but it did not affect their perception and attitude about injury prevention. A visit to the emergency department with MAI is an opportunity for education on injury prevention and changes of the attitude.

Purpose: The optimal time for home safety intervention for children’s injury prevention is during the injury-related visits to emergency departments. The authors investigated the effect of home safety equipment provision on the guardians’ perception of injury prevention and attitude toward it, and the use of home safety equipment. Methods: We conducted a double blind randomized controlled study on guardians of children aged 7 years or younger who visited the emergency department with accidental injuries. After completing the structured, pre-intervention survey on home safety, the guardians were randomly assigned to receive either home safety equipment (the intervention group) or stationery (the control group) in the same opaque boxes enclosing pamphlets about home safety education. After 4 weeks, the guardians were contacted for the post-intervention survey. The questionnaires for the latter survey consisted of the same contents with 2 added questions regarding the use of new home safety equipment after intervention. Logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome (i.e., behavioral change). Results: From April through October 2019, we approached 972 guardians. Of these, 59 guardians answered both pre- and post-intervention surveys. No differences were found in the perception and attitude, and use of home safety equipment between the intervention and control groups at the pre- and post-intervention surveys. No variables were associated with the primary outcome. Conclusion Provision of home safety equipment may be inadequate to improve guardians’ behaviors about prevention of domestic injuries.