The University of Adelaide CENTRE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH

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Publication Details

TitleThe characteristics of fatal crashes in South Australia involving a delay in notifying emergency medical services
AuthorsPonte G, Anderson RWG, Ryan GA
Year2013
TypeConference Paper
AbstractThis study examined the 191 fatal crashes and 218 fatalities occurring in South Australia in the period 2008-2009. A sub-set of these fatal crashes was identified where there was a delay between the time of the crash and the time Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were notified and subsequently dispatched to render medical assistance. It was found that 21.5% (N=41) of fatal crashes had an EMS notification delay exceeding 10 minutes; this accounted for 23.4% of fatalities (N=51). These fatal crashes were examined in more detail including injuries detailed by the forensic pathologist in available coroner reports. It was found that most of the crash notification delays occurred in rural areas and that 2.2% of all fatalities might have been avoided if earlier crash notification to emergency medical services had occurred. This paper will report on the characteristics of these fatal crashes, a mechanism by which crash notification delays might be reduced and factors that might affect successful reduction in delays.
Conference NameRoad Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference 2013
Conference AbbreviationRSR 2013
Conference LocationBrisbane
Conference Date28-30 August 2013

Reference
Ponte G, Anderson RWG, Ryan GA (2013). The characteristics of fatal crashes in South Australia involving a delay in notifying emergency medical services. Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference 2013, Brisbane, 28-30 August 2013.


Files Available for Download
CASRCharacteristicsOfFatalCrashes1359.pdfPDF from conference website