Objective: When mass casualty incidents occur in Korea, disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs) and public health disaster response teams (PHDRTs) treat casualties at the scene. However, the appropriateness of their on-site responses has not been assessed so far. In this study, we evaluated their response and the variations in their response according to the accessibility of medical care. Methods: We analyzed mass casualty incidents that were reported to the Disaster Emergency Medical Service Situation Room of the National Emergency Medical Center from July 2014 to December 2018. We divided the accident locations into medically underserved areas (MUAs) and adequately served areas (ASAs) and compared the responses of the two teams in each area. Results: Of the 61 incidents, 20 occurred in MUAs, and 41 occurred in ASAs. In MUAs compared to ASAs, time from DMATs' dispatch to arrival was longer (48 [40-58.5] vs. 23 [18-32], P<0.001) but the time taken by the PHDRTs did not vary between two areas (19 [14-35] vs. 15.5 [9-24.5], P=0.263). In MUAs, the time elapsed from the PHDRTs' dispatch to arrival was less than that of the DMATs (48 [40-58.5] vs. 20 [15-35], P<0.001). In MUAs, the distance of the PHDRTs from the scene was lower (31.4 [25-50.95] vs. 13.6 [5.3-19.7], P=0.001) and more members were dispatched to the scene than the DMAT (5 [4-6] vs. 9 [5-10.5], P=0.013). Conclusion Because of the low accessibility to the scene in MUAs, DMATs took a long time to initiate medical support . To provide adequate disaster medical support, the PHDRTs must be specialized and trained.

Objective: When mass casualty incidents occur in Korea, disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs) and public health disaster response teams (PHDRTs) treat casualties at the scene. However, the appropriateness of their on-site responses has not been assessed so far. In this study, we evaluated their response and the variations in their response according to the accessibility of medical care. Methods: We analyzed mass casualty incidents that were reported to the Disaster Emergency Medical Service Situation Room of the National Emergency Medical Center from July 2014 to December 2018. We divided the accident locations into medically underserved areas (MUAs) and adequately served areas (ASAs) and compared the responses of the two teams in each area. Results: Of the 61 incidents, 20 occurred in MUAs, and 41 occurred in ASAs. In MUAs compared to ASAs, time from DMATs' dispatch to arrival was longer (48 [40-58.5] vs. 23 [18-32], P<0.001) but the time taken by the PHDRTs did not vary between two areas (19 [14-35] vs. 15.5 [9-24.5], P=0.263). In MUAs, the time elapsed from the PHDRTs' dispatch to arrival was less than that of the DMATs (48 [40-58.5] vs. 20 [15-35], P<0.001). In MUAs, the distance of the PHDRTs from the scene was lower (31.4 [25-50.95] vs. 13.6 [5.3-19.7], P=0.001) and more members were dispatched to the scene than the DMAT (5 [4-6] vs. 9 [5-10.5], P=0.013). Conclusion Because of the low accessibility to the scene in MUAs, DMATs took a long time to initiate medical support . To provide adequate disaster medical support, the PHDRTs must be specialized and trained.

Objective: Personal mobility vehicles (PMV) have been used widely as a means of replacing bicycles in recent yearsbecause of their convenience and high economic efficiency. On the other hand, accidents related to PMV are alsoincreasing, but there have been few studies in this area. This study examined the factors that increase the severity ofdamage and determine the characteristics of the PMV compared to the accidents on a bicycle. Methods: Retrospective observational studies were performed. The variables related to the accident were collected andanalyzed for patients who visited the emergency room due to a PMV and bicycle accident. Multivariate logistic regressionanalysis was used to determine the factors affecting the severity of the patients. The odds ratios were calculated andcompared between injuries related to PMV and bicycles. Results: A total of 1,124 patients (bicycles 1,017, PMV 107) were enrolled in this study. In multivariate regression analysis,the severity of PMV was higher (odds ratio [OR], 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.83) than that of a bicycle.The factors affecting the severity of the patients were age (OR, 1.02, 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), alcohol use (OR, 1,70; 95% CI,1.04-2.70), ambulance transport (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.78-3.40), and wearing a helmet (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.36-3.13). Conclusion PMV showed higher severity of damage than a bicycle. The PMV, which is a new transportation means, isinsufficient for the prevention of safety compared to bicycles where driving regulations and wearing protective equipmentare common. Additional studies on the precise mechanisms of injury and damage are expected to prevent accidents andreduce their severity.

Objective: When bike riding under the influence of alcohol, incidence of injury increases, although reports of highly severe injuries is rare. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how drinking alcohol affects bicycle injuries. Methods: This study included patients who visited the emergency departments at 23 hospitals. Participants were enrolled in the emergency department-based injury in-depth surveillance program of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were over 15-years-old, and were injured while riding a bike either with or without alcohol intake.Patients with important data missing or insufficient data such as Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Score (EMR-ISS) were excluded from the analysis. Results: A total of 28,094 patients were analyzed. The alcohol-intake group numbered 1,946 (6.9%) while the non-alcohol-intake group numbered 26,148 (93.1%). The incidence of severe injury (EMR-ISS≥25) in the alcohol-intake group was 451 (23.2%), whereas that in the non-alcohol-intake group was 2,881 (11.0%), which was statistically different between the two groups (P<0.001). According to multivariate logistic regression, the odds ratio of severe injuries in the alcohol-intake group was 2.04 (95% confidence interval, 1.80-2.30) compared to the non-alcohol-intake group after adjusting for age, alcohol use, type of road, sex, injury time, and transportation. Conclusion Alcohol is associated with an increase in the incidence of severe injuries. Therefore, as part of preventive measures, it will be necessary to tighten regulations on post-drinking bike riding and improve awareness through public relations.

PURPOSE: Traumatic diaphragmatic injury (TDI) is no longer considered to be a rare condition in Korea. This study investigated differences in the prevalence of accompanying injuries and the prognosis in patients with traumatic diaphragmatic damage according to the mechanism of injury. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with TDI who were seen at a regional emergency medical center from January 2000 to December 2018. Among severe trauma patients with traumatic diaphragmatic damage, adults older than 18 years of age with a known mechanism of injury were included in this study. Surgery performed within 6 hours after the injury was sustained was defined as emergency surgery. We assessed the survival rate and likelihood of respiratory compromise according to the mechanism of injury. RESULTS: In total, 103 patients were analyzed. The patients were categorized according to whether they had experienced a penetrating injury or a blunt injury. Thirty-five patients had sustained a penetrating injury, and traffic accidents were the most common cause of blunt injuries. The location of the injury did not show a statistically significant difference between these groups. Severity of TDI was more common in the blunt injury group than in the penetrating injury group, and was also more likely in patients with respiratory compromise. However, sex, the extent of damage, and the initial Glasgow coma scale score had no significant relationship with severity. CONCLUSIONS Based on the findings of this study, TDI should be recognized and managed proactively in patients with blunt injury and/or respiratory compromise. Early recognition and implementation of an appropriate management strategy would improve patients' prognosis. Multi-center, prospective studies are needed in the future.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether injury severity differs with respect to age among elderly pedestrians involved in traffic accidents and identify factors affecting injury severity.METHODS: Using emergency department-based injury in-depth surveillance data, we analyzed the data of patients aged ≥60 years who were victims of pedestrian traffic accidents during 2011 to 2016. The pedestrians’ ages were divided into 5-year age strata beginning at 60 years. In a multivariate analysis, injury severity was classified as severe to critical or mild to moderate.RESULTS: The analysis included 10,449 patients. All age groups had a female predominance, and accidents most frequently occurred during the early morning. Multivariate analyses revealed that compared to the 60 to 64 years group, the odds ratios for incurring a severe injury were 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.37) for the 65 to 69 years group, 1.42 (95% CI, 1.23 to 1.64) for the 70 to 74 years group, 1.70 (95% CI, 1.45 to 1.98) for the 75 to 79 years group, and 1.83 (95% CI, 1.56 to 2.15) for the ≥80 years group.CONCLUSION: In this study of emergency department-based data, we found that injury severity increased with age among elderly victims of traffic accidents. Furthermore, injury severity varied with respect to sex, time and location of the accident, and type of vehicle involved. Therefore, measures intended to reduce and prevent traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians should consider these findings.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Pedestrians ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the status of the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) according to the guidelines by residents belonging to other departments other than the department of emergency medicine. The differences in status between the junior group and senior group was also investigated according to grades of residents. METHODS: The ACLS performance for in-hospital cardiac arrest cases of one academic hospital, except for the cases occurring in intensive care unit between November 2015 and October 2017, were analyzed retrospectively. Data included the characteristics of residents, patients' outcomes, ACLS performance, and conventional treatment having discordance with the ACLS guidelines. Leaders during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were divided into a junior group and senior group. RESULTS: A total of 152 cases were enrolled in this study. Of these, 131 cases (86.2%) showed at least one treatment with inconsistency from the guidelines and the incidence of discordant treatment was similar in the two groups (55 [85.9%] vs. 76 [88.4%], P=0.657). Implicit use of sodium bicarbonate was more frequent in the senior residents group (odds ratio [OR], 3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–6.81). On the other hand, no use of a defibrillator was less frequent in the senior residents group (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03–0.81). CONCLUSION: In both groups, the rate of discordance with the ACLS guidelines during CPR were high. The rate of implicit use of sodium bicarbonate and no use of defibrillator were significantly different in the two groups. A customized education strategy for ACLS is needed for each group.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Defibrillators ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine* ; Hand ; Heart Arrest* ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium Bicarbonate

PURPOSE: Trampoline-related injuries are steadily increasing. To our knowledge, there have been very few studies on trampoline injuries in Asia. The purpose of this study is to report the characteristics of pediatric trampoline injuries in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study. Data were collected from prospective nationwide databases (Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance databases of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for patients who visited emergency departments (EDs) after injuries during 2011–2016. RESULTS: Of 263712 patients between 0 and 17 years of age, 2799 patients with trampoline injuries visited EDs. The median age of the patients was 5 years (interquartile range, 3–8 years), and 63% of the patients were under 6 years old. Of the patients, 1526 (54.2%) were male. Seventy-six percent of injuries occurred at trampoline parks. Trampoline injuries and trampoline park injuries have increased steadily, while ages at injury have gradually decreased year by year (p < 0.001). Injury locations included the lower extremity (47%), head and face (24%), and upper extremity (24%). A fracture was sustained by 886 (31.7%) patients. The distal humerus and proximal tibia were the most common fracture sites (34% and 23%, respectively). Fractures occurred more commonly in trampoline parks than in homes (33.7% vs. 21.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In Korea, pediatric trampoline injuries and trampoline park injuries have tended to increase, while ages at injury have tended to decrease. Policies to prevent trampoline injuries are needed.
Asia ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cohort Studies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fractures, Bone ; Head ; Humans ; Humerus ; Korea* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia ; Upper Extremity ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: This study describes the disaster medical responses to the disaster scene of long-distance on a highway; 106-vehicle chain collision on Yeong-Jong Grand Bridge on February 11, 2015 and we discuss the disaster communication by social media. METHODS: Records of disaster medical responses from records of relevant organizations and messages of social media were collected. Medical records and the results of triage were reviewed retrospectively. Casualties were categorized into four groups according to results of triage; Red- Yellow-Green-Black. Kappa statistics were used to measure agreement between results of triage and casualties' outcome. RESULTS: Disaster Medical Assistant Team (DMAT) arrived on the scene one hour after accidents occurred. DMAT settled in a temporary base camp in the middle part of the scene and did not build an emergency air shelter. DMATs from four hospitals were separated into four mobile units of DMAT and they joined the rescue team. Disaster communication by social media was useful. Seventy six casualties were transported and two died; 28.9% of casualties were transported to the nearest regional emergency medical center; 20.0% of red casualties were transported to a higher level of care again. Kappa statistics were 0.122 (95% CI, - 0.049~0.291; p=0.094). CONCLUSION: In the disaster scene of long-distance on a highway, adequate location of triage and treatment area may be the front or rear of the scene and separation of DMATs can be helpful. Disaster communication by social media was helpful. Education and policies will be required for more effective triage and dispersion of casualties.
Disasters* ; Education ; Emergencies ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; Medical Assistance ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Media* ; Triage*

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value and optimal sampling time of serum S-100B protein for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). METHODS: We prospectively measured serum S100 calcium binding protein beta subunit (S-100B protein) levels 12 times (0-96 hours) after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The patients were classified into two groups based on cerebral performance category (CPC): the good neurological outcome group (CPC 1-2 at 6 months) and the poor neurological outcome group (CPC 3-5). We compared serial changes and serum S-100B protein levels at each time point between the two groups and performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study. S-100B protein levels peaked at ROSC (0 hour), decreased rapidly to 6 hours and maintained a similar level thereafter. Serum S-100B protein levels in the poor CPC group (n = 22) were significantly higher than in the good CPC group (n = 18) at all time points after ROSC except at 4 hours. The time points with highest area under curve were 24 (0.829) and 36 (0.837) hours. The cut-off value, the sensitivity (24/36 hours) and specificity (24/36 hours) for the prediction of poor CPC at 24 and 48 hours were 0.221/0.249 ug/L, 75/65% and 82.4/94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum S-100B protein was an early and useful marker for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-CA patients treated with TH and the optimal sampling times were 24 and 36 hours after ROSC.
Area Under Curve ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit* ; Sensitivity and Specificity