45. The Impact of an Alert Tone on On-Scene Time in Trauma Patients

Extract

Objective: Determine whether radio alerts to paramedics after 7 minutes of on-scene time reduces total on-scene time for trauma patients.

Methods: Paramedics radio base once they determine ACS criteria were met. Paramedics were informed by radio when 7 minutes lapsed on-scene. Dispatch times were recorded.

Results: The control group (Nov. 1-30, 1995) of 135 consecutive patients were reviewed without a radio alert. The test group (Dec. 1-31, 1995) of 103 consecutive patients, with a radio alert message 7 minutes after scene arrival were also reviewed. Groups were matched for extrication times, blunt versus penetrating trauma, age, etc. We analyzed both groups for the interval of time from announcement of “trauma alert,” (when paramedics determined the patient met ACS criteria or from the time extrication was complete (if applicable) to the time en route to the hospital. Average on-scene time for the control group was 13.7 minutes [range 4-35] versus test group 9.3 minutes [range 2-26] (p <0.001).