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Beyond Injuries: February 6th Kahramanmaras Earthquakes and Other Patients Transported by Ambulance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 October 2024

Muge Gulen Open the ORCID record for Muge Gulen [Opens in a new window] ,
Salim Satar ,
Selen Acehan ,
Sarper Sevdimbas ,
Mehmet Gorur ,
Kadir Nigiz ,
Cagdas Ince ,
Ayca Balta ,
Esra Aybal  and
Suleyman Cetinkunar
Muge Gulen*
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Salim Satar
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Selen Acehan
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Sarper Sevdimbas
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Mehmet Gorur
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Kadir Nigiz
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Cagdas Ince
Affiliation:
Karacabey State Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
Ayca Balta
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Esra Aybal
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Anesthesiology and Reanimation Clinic and Intensive Care Unit, Adana, Turkey
Suleyman Cetinkunar
Affiliation:
Health Science University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of General Surgery, Adana, Turkey
*
Corresponding author: Muge Gulen; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective

This study evaluates the Emergency Medical Service system and overall emergency preparedness by analyzing ambulance-transported patients during the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, focusing on those without earthquake-related injuries (medical emergencies and traumas not caused by earthquakes).

Methods

A retrospective, observational case series was conducted, involving patients aged 18 and above transported by ambulance between February 6 and March 6, 2023. Patient demographic characteristics, vital signs, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes were recorded. Predisposing factors for ambulance transportation including post-earthquake health facility issues, housing problems, hygiene, heating, and smoke exposure were meticulously analyzed.

Results

The study included 1872 patients, with a 55.4% hospitalization rate and a 13.7% mortality rate. Cardiovascular emergencies were the primary reason for admission (28.9%). Patients from the hospital in the study’s location form Group 1, whereas those from other earthquake-affected provinces constitute Group 2. Significant predisposing factors for ambulance transportation included post-earthquake health facilities (P < 0.001), housing problems (P < 0.001), hygiene (P < 0.001), heating (P = 0.001), and smoke exposure (P < 0.001). In Group 2, pneumonia (P = 0.001), soft tissue infection (P = 0.002), sepsis (P = 0.004), carbon monoxide poisoning (P < 0.001), and diabetic emergencies (P = 0.013) were statistically significantly more frequent.

Conclusions

Analyzing post-earthquake ambulance-transported patients is vital to comprehend the demand for emergency health care and address post-disaster health care challenges.

Keywords

ambulancedisaster managementemergency departmenthealth careKahramanmaras earthquake
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e201
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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