(A214) Road War: A 200-Vehicle Crash, Special Report

Abstract

The last thing the world needs is another war.¹ Everyday about 3000 people die and 30,000 people are seriously injured on the world's roads.² Furthermore, for people who survive the crash, additional suffering and frustration occur because of administrative, legal, and social barriers.³ Since transport to hospital usually takes 30–45 minutes, the ‘golden hour’ in which 48% of deaths occur is spent mainly in the prehospital environment.⁴ On March 11, 2008 at 7:30 AM a very foggy morning, a major car crash occurred on the high way from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. Initial scene response was conducted by Abu Dhabi traffic police Abu Dhabi Police Ambulance and Rescue Sections helped by Dubai. Casualities were transported to 2 hospitals in Abu Dhabi; Al Mafraq and Al Rahba. The Authors describes Al Rahba hospital response that received 159 causalities (almost half of the causalities).

Results

Three victims died immediately on scene. Most of the causalities were triaged and re triaged as Priority 3 (green), suffered from extremity trauma, were treated and discharged. Twenty patients were triaged as Priority 2 (yellow) and were admitted to the hospital, Three patients were priority one (red) were admitted to the ICU, one of them died 10 days later due to severe head and chest injuries.