Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T15:25:48.983Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

First-aid Training and Bystander Actions at Traffic Crashes — A Population Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Eva M. Larsson ,
Niklas L. Mártensson  and
Kristina A.E. Alexanderson
Eva M. Larsson
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Society, Division of Social Medicine and Public Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
Niklas L. Mártensson
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Society, Division of Social Medicine and Public Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
Kristina A.E. Alexanderson*
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Society, Division of Social Medicine and Public Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
*
Division of Social Medicine and Public Health Science, Department of Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden, E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

Traffic crashes constitute a major, worldwide public-health problem that cause disabilities, life-long suffering, and huge economic losses. When a person is injured in a traffic crash, actions taken by bystanders often are of crucial importance. To perform first-aid actions in a correct manner, bystanders, often lay persons, need both the courage and the knowledge to do so. For preventive purposes, society spends large resources to inform and educate the public in order to enhance people's ability to take correct actions. However, there only is little information on the rate in a population of persons who have had first-aid training, have been bystanders at a traffic crash, on the actions taken by such persons, and on effects of first-aid training on patient care.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to acquire knowledge about: (1) the prevalence of first-aid training; (2) the incidence of being a bystander and of the first aid provided at traffic crashes and other emergencies; and (3) the impact of first-aid training on the risks people take in road traffic.

Methods:

A questionnaire was administered to 2,800 randomly selected persons aged 18–74 years.

Results:

The response rate was 67.5%. During the previous five years, 39% of the population had received first-aid training, with a higher rate among younger individuals and those with a higher education. After training, 30% of the respondents had used their skills, and 41% took fewer risks in traffic, particularly those who were older or had a lower level of education. Fourteen percent of those with training (significantly more men) had been bystanders at a traffic crash. At 20% of the crashes, a bystander had administered first aid, and one-third of those who provided such assistance had had use of their training. Conclusion: Intensified first-aid training of the general public could lead to citizens who are more cautious in traffic and to bystanders who provide more immediate and adequate first aid at traffic crashes and other emergencies.

Keywords

bystandercrashesfirst aidpopulationpreventiontraffic
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , September 2002 , pp. 134 - 141
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2002

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.Cullu, E, Savk, S, Özkan, I, Alparslan, B, Ayaz, S, Akin, T: A survey on drivers’ first-aid knowledge and experience in Aydin region, Turkey. Journal of Traffic Medicine 1998;26(3–4):139–144.Google Scholar
2.Al-Momani, T, Halalsheh, M, Trawneh, M: Road traffic accidents — Medical point of view. Journal of Traffic Medicine 1998;26(1–2):31–36.Google Scholar
3.Peterson, TD, Russell, DW: Bystander trauma care training in Iowa. Prehospital Emergency Care 1999;3(3):225–230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Trinca, G: Road trauma prevention: Perspectives. World Journal of Surgery 1992; 16: 370–373.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Collin, C: Transport Safety. Luxenbourg: Eurostat, 2000.Google Scholar
6. Swedish Institute for Transport and Communications Analysis. Table 22. Statistics Sweden, 2000.Google Scholar
7.Robertson, L: Reducing death on the road: The effects of minimum safety standards, publicized crash tests, seat belts, and alcohol. American Journal of Public Health 1996;86(1):31–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Rosén, M: Har hälso-och sjukvården ett ansvar för att förebygga trafikolyck-or? [Does healthcare have a responsibility for prevention of traffic crashes?] (in Swedish). Socialmedicinsk tidskrift 1983;8–9: 445–448.Google Scholar
9.Elvik, R: How much do road accidents cost the national economy? Accident Analysis and Prevention 2000; 32: 849–851.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Brodsky, H: The bystander in highway injury accidents. Social Science & Medicine 1984;19(11):1213–1216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Hussain, LM, Redmond, AD. Are pre-hospital deaths from accidental injury preventable? BMJ 1994;1994(308):1077–1080.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Henriksson, M, Öström, M, Eriksson, A: Fordonsrelaterade dödsfall. En analys av överlevnadsbara skador ( Vehicle-related fatalities. An analyses of injuries possible to survive). (in Swedish). Umeå: Department of Forensic Medicine, 1998.Google Scholar
13.Nygren, Å, Alberts, A, Brismar, B, et al: The Treatment and Rehabilitation of Traffic Accident Victims. Stockholm: The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care, 1994.Google Scholar
14.Miles, S: First-aid training. BMJ 1969; 4: 485–487.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Shibata, K, Taniguchi, T, Yoshida, M, Yamamoto, K: Obstacles to bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Japan. Resuscitation 2000; 44: 187–193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Raeder, J, Vig, J, Lereim, I: Förstehjelp ved trafikkulykker. Et prospektivt ettårs-materiale fra Trondheims-regionen [First aid in traffic accidents. A prospective one year study in the Trondheim region] (in Norwegian). Tidskrift for Den Norske Laegeforening 1988; 108(33):3071–3074.Google Scholar
17.Brenner, B, Kauffman, J, Sachter, JJ: Comparison of the reluctance of house staff of metropolitan and suburban hospitals to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Resuscitation 1996; 32: 5–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Hew, P, Brenner, B, Kaufman, J: Reluctance of paramedics and emergency medical technicians to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Journal of Emergency Medicine 1997;15(3):279–284.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Melanson, S, O'Gara, K: EMS provider reluctance to perform mouth-to mouth resuscitation. Prehospital Emergency Care 2000; 4: 48–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Shotland, RL, Heinold, WD: Bystander response to arterial bleeding: Helping skills, the decision-making process, and differentiating the helping response. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 1985;49(2):347–356.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Harrison, JA, Wells, RB: Bystander effects on male helping behavior: Social comparison and diffusion of responsibility. Representive Research in Social Psychology 1991;19(1):53–63.Google Scholar
22.Mnårtensson, N, Alexanderson, K: Första hjälpen-insatser i samband med olycks-fall och akut sjukdom - en pilotstudie [First-aid actions in relation to emergencies] (in Swedish). Linköping: Social Medicine and Public Health Science, Department of Health and Environment, 1998.Google Scholar
23.Pearn, J: The earliest days of first aid. BMJ 1994; 309: 1718–1720.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Glendon, AI, McKenna, SP: Using accident injury data to assess the impact of community first aid training. Public Health 1985;99(2):98–109.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25.Lund, I, Skulberg, A: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation by lay public. Lancet 1976; 2: 702–704.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26.Copley, DP, Mantle, JA, Rogers, WJ, Russell, RO, Rackley, CE: Improved outcome for prehospital cardiopulmonary collapse with resuscitation by bystanders. Circulation 1977;56(6):901–905.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27.Troest, A, Larsen, N, Clausen, B: Förstehjaelp, praehospital behandling, udfört af laegmand [First-aid carried out prehospital by laypersons] (in Danish). Ugeskrift for Laeger 1990;152(38):2711–2714.Google Scholar
28.Miller, G, Agnew, N: First aid training and accidents. Occupational Psychology 1973; 47: 209–218.Google Scholar
29.Mårtensson, N, Alexanderson, K: Faktorer som påverkar lekmäns första hjälpeninsatser [Factors effecting bystander first-aid actions] (in Swedish). Linköping: Social Medicine and Public Health Science, Department of Health and Environment, 2000.Google Scholar
30.Kirkwood, B.Essentials of Medical Statistics. Oxford: Blackwell, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1991.Google Scholar
31.Weaver, F, Ramirez, A, Dorfman, S, Raizner, A: Trainees retention of car-diopulmonary resuscitation. JAMA 1979;241(9):901–903.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32.Wenzel, V, Lehmkuhl, P, Kubilis, P, Idris, A, Pichlmayr, I: Poor correlation of mouth-to-mouth ventilation skills after basic life support training and 6 months later. Resuscitation 1997; 35: 129–134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33.Fossel, M, Kiskaddon, R, Sterbach, G: Retention of CRP skills. Journal of Medical Education 1983; 58: 568–575.Google Scholar
34.Wilson, E, Brooks, B, Tweed, W: CPR skills retention of lay basic rescuers. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1983; 12: 482–484.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35.The National Board of Health and Welfare: Causes of death 1998. Stockholm: The National Board of Health and Welfare, Centre for Epidemiology, 2000.Google Scholar
36.Raphael, K: Recall bias: A proposal for assessment and control. International Journal of Epidemiology 1987;16(2):167–170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37.Smith, M: The case control or retrospective study in retrospect. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1981; 21: 269–274.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed