Emergency medical services response to motor vehicle crashes in rural areas
By: consultant, Erik D. Minge, SRF Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contributors: National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board; National Cooperative Highway Research Program; American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; United States. Federal Highway Administration
Series: NCHRP synthesis -- 451; Synthesis of highway practice -- 451.
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 72
ISBN-13: 9780309271042
Subjects: Emergency medical services; Traffic accidents; Rural health services; Rural roads; Accidents; Ambulance service; Rural Medicine
Description: "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 tend 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. In addition, it examines broader issues such as personnel, data  records, and interaction with other agencies"--Summary.
Notes: At head of title: National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 44-45).

Also available online.

Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration NCHRP project 20-05 (topic 43-15)
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Literature review; title: Survey findings; title: Case examples; title: Conclusions.