Knowledge on first aid and practices in Emergencies among

three wheeler drivers

Kasthuriarachchi H.I. (Presenting) Silva S.N. *

1. Diploma student of Nursing; International Institute of Health Sciences.

2. (* Supervisor) : Medical officer; National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Contents

• Introduction• Objectives• Methodology• Results• Discussion• Recommendations• Acknowledgement• References

Introduction

• Traumatic injuries are the most leading cause for hospitalizations in Sri Lanka (Annual Health Bulletin 2012).

RTA Data for 2014

Introduction • Approximately 1500 people acquire spinal cord injuries annually (SLSCoN 2010).

Introduction

• 929,495 three wheelers registered in 2014

Introduction

• Why it is so important first aid • Strengthen first responders and pre-hospital

trauma care providers (WHO 2007)• Transport the injured person to a hospital,

especially if emergency medical service is not available.

• Most common method to transport injured people (Pallavisarji 2013).

Introduction

Objectives

Specific objectives • To assess the knowledge based on the first aid at emergencies • To assess the first aid practice among three wheeler drivers

Methodology • Study design – Cross sectional quantitative research

using descriptive study design • Population – People in Uswetakeiyawa, Sri Lanka in

August 2014• Sample – 150 of three wheeler drivers among age

group of 20-65 years Gampaha, Sri Lanka in October 2015.

• Sampling method- Convenient sampling method• Data collection instrument - Interviewer

administered questionnaire • Analysis method – Descriptive and analytical statistics

Results

• Background Age distribution

Results • First aid practice

Results • Frequency of transporting traumatic patients

Results • Patient transferring methods

Transferring mode

Number of responses

Cradle 52%

Human crutch 38%

Lift 26%

Stretcher 38%

Results

• Reasons for not applying first aid practices

Reasons for not applying first aid practices

Responses

No knowledge 30%

Fear 35%

No equipment 19%

Legal problem 54%

Results • Recovery position

Results • Spinal injury suspicion

Aware Not aware

Height 83% 17%Age > 65 79% 21%Tingling sensations

44% 56%

Neck pain 52% 48%Neck trauma 58% 42%Facial trauma 37% 63%

Trauma to back 80% 20%

Limb weakness 45% 55%

Results

• Further prevention for a Spinal injury

First aid practice Responses

Cradle 3%

Stretcher 87%

Stabilizing head 32%

Log rolling 7%

Results • Bleeding

Results

• Assessing Pulse confidence

Results

• Fracture further prevention

Discussion• 74% of the respondents transported the victims to

the hospitals in contrast to study in India where most common aid provided was calling an ambulance (Pallavisarji 2013).

• 87% had knowledge on correct position of victim transportation but many didn’t know the transferring method of a victim (7%) and features of spinal injury.

• 71% tried to control the bleeding but many didn’t know the correct method of bleeding control (28%).

Recommendations

• Community-based first aid training programs will help to provide care and improve outcomes for injured persons.

• Awareness programs may enhance the pre hospital care and minimize complications by using proper first aid practices.

• Promoting Three Wheelers as Ambulances – “Tuk Tuk Ambulance”

Tuk Tuk ambulances

Acknowledge

• Special thanks goes to Dr. Kithsiri, Dr. Nishan, Dr. Madushani for help in every hands.

• This project was made possible and successful with the help of the interviewers.

• Thankfulness to my parents, colleagues and all of the people who helped me.

References Ali J et al.Trauma outcome improves following the advanced trauma life support program in a developing country. Journal of Trauma, 1993, 34:898–9. Ali J et al. Effect of the prehospital trauma life support program (PHTLS) on prehospital trauma care. Journal of Trauma, 1997, 42:786–90.American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Surgeons. Equipment for ambulances, 2000 (http://www.acep.org/library/pdf/ambulance_equip.pdf, accessed11 March 2005).Angus DC et al. Recommendations for life supporting first aid training of the lay public for disaster preparedness. Prehospital Disaster Medicine, 1993, 8:157–60.Bazzoli GJ.Community-based trauma system development: key barriers and facilitating factors. Journal of Trauma, 1999, 47(Suppl. 3):S22–S24.Bossaert LL.The complexity of comparing different EMS systems: a survey of EMS systems in Europe. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 1993, 22:99–102.Campbell JE. Basic trauma life support for paramedics and other advanced providers, 4 th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ, Brady/Prentice Hall Health, 2000.Carney CJ. Prehospital care – a UK perspective. British Medical Bulletin, 1999, 55:757–66.Chawla R. Need for trauma care programmes in developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 1999, 77: 948–49.

Questions?

Thank you ihansini@gmail.com