title: The analysis of the cases of circulatory and respiratory arrest in the work of the Regional Unit of Ambulance Service - Sródmieście Station.
abstract: The major causes of deaths all over the world are circulatory system diseases, neoplasms and injuries. Each man can become a participant of the event which results in life-threatening emergencies and the most immediate possible actions are essential. The period of time for starting efficient life-restoration actions is very short, estimated at 4-5 minutes. Ambulance Service is a medical organization created to apply aid in life-threatening emergencies. The standards of the developed western countries determine the arrival time at 7-10 minutes from the call time. Both first-aid applied by the accident witnesses and efficient actions of ambulance service have significance for effective pre-hospital aid and increasing the chances of survival of people in need. The study analysed emergency records of the ambulance cars of the Regional Unit of Ambulance Service - Sródmieście Station in Lublin in the year 2000. 3,723 calls were recorded. In 142 cases complete resuscitation actions were carried out due to circulatory and respiratory arrest. The records selected this way went through a detailed analysis. In 3.8% of the interventions of emergency teams the necessity of applying advanced life support was observed. The time of arrival at the scene, transport of the patient to the admission room as well as efficiency of resuscitation comply with the European standards. The efficiency of resuscitation actions estimated at 51.4% depended on the age of the patient, the cause of circulatory and respiratory arrest and ambulance arrival time. Taking up basic life support by witnesses of the event was observed in 2.8% of cases, in 8.5% aid was applied by the medical staff members who happened to be at the scene.
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Chair and Department of Public Health, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chemperek
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mikuła
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goniewicz
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome