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Tram‐related trauma in Melbourne, Victoria
Author(s) -
Mitra Biswadev,
Al Jubair Jubair,
Cameron Peter A,
Gabbe Belinda J
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
emergency medicine australasia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1742-6723
pISSN - 1742-6731
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2010.01309.x
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , emergency department , emergency medicine , population , medical emergency , major trauma , injury prevention , rate ratio , occupational safety and health , poison control , road traffic , environmental health , transport engineering , psychiatry , physics , pathology , optics , engineering
Objectives: To establish the incidence and pattern of injuries in patients presenting to hospital with tram‐related injuries. Methods: Data on tram‐related injury pertaining to 2001–2008 calendar years were extracted from three datasets: the population‐based Victorian State Trauma Registry for major trauma cases, the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset for ED presentations and the National Coroners' Information System for deaths. Incidence rates adjusted for the population of Melbourne, and trends in the incidence of tram‐related ED presentations and major trauma cases, were analysed and presented as incidence rate ratios (IRR). Results: There were 1769 patients who presented to ED after trauma related to trams in Melbourne during the study period. Of these, 107 patients had injuries classified as major trauma. There was a significant increase in the rate of ED presentations (IRR 1.03, P = 0.010) with falls (46%) the most commonly reported mechanism. Most falls occurred inside the trams. There was also a significant increase in the incidence rates of major trauma cases (IRR 1.12, P = 0.006) with pedestrians accounting for most major trauma cases. Conclusions: Most cases of trauma related to trams have minor injuries and are discharged following ED management. Primary prevention of falls in trams and the separation of pedestrians from trams are key areas requiring immediate improvement. In the face of increasing trauma associated with trams, continuing safety surveillance and targeted public safety messages are important to sustain trams as safe and effective mode of transport.