Changes in injury patterns and severity in a helicopter air-rescue system over a 6-year period.
OBJECTIVE
To study the influence of current trends in alpine sports on the frequency and types of injuries handled by a helicopter-based emergency medical system (HEMS) in a wilderness mountain region.


METHODS
A retrospective review of medical reports at a single emergency helicopter port (Christophorus-1 air rescue) in Innsbruck, Austria, was conducted for comparison between two 3-year periods (1998-2000 and 2001-2003).


RESULTS
Comparing the two 3-year periods, the proportion of leisure-time injuries leading to HEMS activation increased, whereas the frequency of life-threatening injuries significantly declined (P = .001). There was significant increase in injuries during mountain hiking and rock climbing (P = .002), during swimming (P = .013), and in avalanches (P = .019). Most injuries (70.1%) were recorded for skiers, and 68.3% involved tourists. During the investigation period, the high National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics scores showed a decreasing trend, whereas Glasgow Coma Scale scores and low National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics scores tended to increase (P = .048).


CONCLUSIONS
For the HEMS in this study, there has been an increasing number of calls for help from persons involved in outdoor leisure activities. As the number of life-threatening injuries declines, HEMSs more frequently serve as means of rescue rather than as providers of emergency treatment.
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. Marc.Kaufmann@uibk.ac.at
Marc
M
Kaufmann
Berthold
B
Moser
Wolfgang
W
Lederer
D000059:Accidents; D017732:Air Ambulances; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007899:Leisure Activities; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000293:injuries*; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices