title: Patients admitted to emergency units with injuries related to the four Hajj-associated annual animal sacrifice feasts from 2010 to 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the Eid al-Adha ("Sacrifice Feast") religious holiday in Muslim communities animal sacrifices are made over a period of 3 days every year.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the type of sacrifice-related injuries, the characteristics of patients, treatments for injuries, and relationships between these factors to determine precautions that could be taken to avoid or mitigate sacrifice-related injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of medical records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Emergency units at two hospitals from 2010 to 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients admitted for treatment for injuries associated with sacrificial cutting during the four annual sacrifice feasts were classified as professional butchers, apprentice butchers, and third persons who were neither professional butchers nor apprentices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injuries associated with animal sacrifice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 592 patients, 22 (3.7%) were professional butchers, 149 (25.2%) apprentice butchers, and 421 (71.1%) third persons. Significant relationships were found between the profession of the injured person and the injury and subsequent treatment (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To prevent and minimize the injuries associated with sacrificial cutting, there should be an area designated for sacrificing animals. Moreover, sacrifices should be performed by professionals in possession of a sacrificial cutting certificate. If owners of sacrificial animals insist on slaughtering animals, they should be trained by professional butchers who have a teaching certificate. To deal with an increasing number of such injuries during the sacrifice feast, hospital emergency units need to be adequately resourced with adequate equipment and staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regional and local data could not be assessed completely. Patients who presented on the 4th day were not included in the study.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basturk
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katirci
authors.affiliation: Dr. Tarik Ocak, Abant Izzet Baysal,, University Medical School,, Department of Emergency Medicine,, Bolu 14280 Turkey,, T: 00905054845291, drtarik1977@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ocak
authors.forename: Mehmet S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yurdakul
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baspinar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult