Review article
https://doi.org/10.26800/LV-144-supl5-3
The response of the health system to major traffic accidents
Maja Grba-Bujević
; Hrvatski zavod za hitnu medicinu, Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine
Damir Važanić
; Hrvatsko katoličko sveučilište, Universitas Studiorum Catholica Croatica
Saša Balija
; Hrvatski zavod za hitnu medicinu, Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine
Sanja Predavec
; Hrvatski zavod za hitnu medicinu, Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine
Abstract
In the Republic of Croatia in 2021, 292 people lost their lives in traffic accidents, mostly in the summer months. From 1994 to the present day, Croatia has drawn up several national road safety strategies, and the latest one for the period 2021–2030 was adopted by the Croatian Government. There is a noticeable trend of decreasing traffic fatalities compared to the beginning of the inspection, and the number of traffic fatalities is almost three times lower than in 1994. In a traffic accident on July 25, 2021, on the A3 highway near Slavonski Brod, 69 passengers were traveling in a bus that went off the road. Ten people died, and 42 were admitted to hospital. The second major bus accident occurred on August 6, 2022, on the A4 highway, in which 12 people died and 32 people were hospitalized. A quick, coordinated, trained and high-quality response of all emergency services involved in dealing with major accidents is the task of all those who participate in it. Since 2009, employees of the emergency medical service, members of the police, firefighters and civil protection have been practicing their coordinated actions at the Medical Response to Major Incidents (MRMI) course in cooperation with the Crisis Headquarters of the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine, the Croatian Society for disaster medicine and General Hospital “Dr. Josip Benčević” Slavonski Brod. The course is carried out in 12 European countries, it’s participants practice their theoretical and practical knowledge and skills through a real scenario of handling a major accident with realistic time consumption, staff and resources in all locations involved in handling such accident, from the scene to operating rooms and intensive care units.
Keywords
MAJOR ACCIDENT; TRAFFIC; EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
Hrčak ID:
286281
URI
Publication date:
25.11.2022.
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