“In Spain , the average waiting time since an accident occurs until they reach the emergency medical services is about 25 minutes, “he explains to SINC Rocío Sanchez- Mangas, study co-author and researcher at the Autonomous University of Madrid ( UAM).

Their research, published by the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention “Is based on information from two databases: the records of the General Traffic Directorate (DGT ) with full details of the accident, and another study of the DGT May 2004 , with information on the time of the accident , the call emergency services and their arrival at the scene . By merging the two bases, was obtained a sample of 1463 accidents on Spanish roads.

The authors calculated the probability of death in terms of response time care, the personal characteristics of victims and the accident. Controlling for other factors, “a reduction from 25 to 15 minutes waiting time is associated with a decrease in the rate of death in third , both on highways and motorways as on conventional roads , “say the authors.

The results also show that the relationship between mortality and health response time is different for different types of track . In conventional road shows in the first 25-30 minutes, a growing relationship : with increasing waiting time , increases the rate of mortality.

On highways and expressways this pattern also appears increased , but in this case observed, moreover, relatively high mortality rates in the first few minutes , resulting in a U- shaped relationship

A fateful return from vacation

According to the DGT, despite the decline of recent years , the number of traffic fatalities in Spain “remains a public health problem very important. ” The latest data from the DGT reveal that the last weekend of August, which coincided with the return operation for holidays, died on Spanish roads 25 people, 12 more than in 2009. Improvements in infrastructure , media campaigns and legislative changes as the penalty point trying to curb this problem. “However, less attention has been paid to a factor that may be critical to reduce the number of deaths: urgent medical assistance , ” the researchers emphasize .

Citation :

Rocio Sanchez- Mangas, Antonio Garcia -Ferrer, Aranzazu de Juan, Antonio Martín Arroyo. “The probability of death in road traffic accidents . How important is a quick medical response ? ” Accident Analysis and Prevention 42 (2010) 1048-1056 , July 2010. DOI : 10.1016/j.aap.2009.12.012 .

Source: SINC