Emergency Medical Services Response to Motor Vehicle Crashes in Rural Areas. A Synthesis of Highway Practice.

摘要

According to national highway safety statistics, a disproportionate number of motor vehicle crashes occur in rural areas. About 40% of vehicle-miles traveled occur on rural roads; however, these rural trips account for 54% of all traffic fatalities. In 2010, a total of 18,026 lives were lost in crashes on rural roadways. Several factors contribute to these higher injury and fatality rates, including that rural crashes are more likely to involve higher vehicle speeds, a lower rate of seat belt use, and less availability of timely emergency medical care. Rural crashes present unique challenges for emergency medical service (EMS) systems. Compared with urban areas, a greater percentage of rural crashes result in multiple fatalities and higher rates of head-on collisions, roll overs, and ejected crash occupants. In addition, rural EMS systems often rely on a volunteer force, and tends to have less financial resources for staffing, equipment, and training. Response times in rural areas are longer owing to the greater travel distances required to reach the scene of a crash. Additionally, some rural EMS systems operate in areas with limited telecommunication options. This synthesis study explores the state of the practice for a broad cross-section of EMS system characteristics. It identifies factors that affect the timely provision of effective medical care in rural areas.