Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T16:28:24.204Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Practical Solutions for Injury Surveillance at Mass Gatherings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Kathryn Zeitz ,
Chris Zeitz ,
Paul Arbon ,
Fiona Cheney ,
Renee Johnston  and
James Hennekam
Kathryn Zeitz*
Affiliation:
Chief Nursing Officer, St. John Ambulance Australia SA Inc., Australia
Chris Zeitz
Affiliation:
State Medical Officer, St. John Ambulance Australia SA Inc., Australia
Paul Arbon
Affiliation:
Professor of Nursing (Population Health), Flinders University; Chief Commissioner, St. John Ambulance Australia Inc., Australia
Fiona Cheney
Affiliation:
St. John Ambulance Australia SA Inc., Australia
Renee Johnston
Affiliation:
St. John Ambulance Australia SA Inc., Australia
James Hennekam
Affiliation:
St. John Ambulance Australia SA Inc., Australia
*
St. John Ambulance Australia SA Inc. 85 Edmund Avenue Unley 5061 South Australia E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

Public safety at mass gatherings is the responsibility of multi-ple agencies. Injury surveillance and inter-agency communication are pivotal to ensure continued public safety.

Objectives:

The principal objective of this pilot study was to improve the identification of trends and patterns of injury presentations at mass gather-ings. This was achieved through an electronic process for data gathering to support timely reporting of injury data. In addition, what evolved was the devel-opment of an inter-agency communication model to support information transfer.

Methods:

An Electronic Injury Surveillance System was created and piloted at two mass gatherings in South Australia. Live, real-time data were collect-ed via customized software supported by electronic report generation.

Results:

The Injury Surveillance System captured data on 181 injured patients and assisted in the identification of trends and patterns of presenta-tions. The relevant injuries and patterns of injuries were reported to the appropriate organizations based on pre-defined communication models.

Conclusions:

The pilot study demonstrated that it was possible to perform “live”, portable injury surveillance during patient presentations at two mass gatherings. The Injury Surveillance System ensured immediate data capture. Well-defined communication systems established for this pilot also enabled early action to rectify hazards. Further development of electronic injury sur-veillance should be considered as an essential tool for managing public safety at mass gatherings.

Keywords

injury surveillancemass gatheringpublic safety
Type
Research Article
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 2008 , pp. 76 - 81
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Vassar, M: San Francisco Injury Centre.Available at http://www.surgery.ucsf.edu/sfic/surveillance.html.Accessed 25 June 2003.Google Scholar
2. Flinders University of South Australia Research Centre for Injury Studies: The Flinders University of South Australia.Available at http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au. Accessed 25 June 2003.Google Scholar
3. Furst, I, Sandor, K: Analysis of a medical tent at the Toronto Caribana Parade. Prehosp Emerg Care 2002:6(2):199–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Zeitz, KM, Zeitz, CJ, Schneider, D, Jarrett, D: Mass gathering events: Retrospective analysis of presentations over seven years at an agricultural and horticultural show. Prehospital Disast Med 2002:17(3):147–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Milsten, AM, Maguire, BJ, Bissell, RA, Seaman, KG: Mass gathering medical care: A review of the literature. Prehospital Disast Med 2002;17(3):151–162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Langley, J, Brenner, R: What is an injury? Injury Prevention 2004;10:69–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7. Flabouris, A, Bridgewater, HG: An analysis of demand for first-aid care at a major public event. Prehospital Disast Med 1996:11(1):48–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Zeitz, KM, Zeitz, CJ, Kadow, C: Injury occurrences at a mass gathering event. Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care 2005:3(1–2).Google Scholar
9. The Office of The Privacy Commissioner: National Privacy Principles— Extracted from the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act. 2000.Google Scholar
10. Emergency Management Australia: Manual 2 Safe and Healthy Mass Gatherings A Health, Medical and Safety Planning Manual for Public Events, Part 3 Emergency Management Practice, Specific Issues. Commonwealth of Australia. 1999:2.Google Scholar