Emergency Medical Service Response Time for Road Traffic Accidents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Analysis of National Data (2016-2020).

Despite preventive measures and initiatives, road traffic accidents are on the rise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to investigate the emergency medical service unit's response to RTA by socio-demographic and accident-related variables in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This retrospective survey included Saudi Red Crescent Authority data on road traffic accidents between 2016 and 2020. As part of the study, information on sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, sex, and nationality), accident-related data (type and place of the accident), and response time to road traffic accidents were extracted. Our study included 95,372 cases of road traffic accidents recorded by the Saudi Red Crescent Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 2016 and 2020. Descriptive analyses were performed to explore the emergency medical service unit's response time to road traffic accidents, and linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the predictors of response time. Most of the road traffic accident cases were among males (59.1%), and the age group of 25-34 years accounted for about a quarter (24.3%), while the mean age of the road traffic accident cases was 30.13 (±12.86) years. Among the regions, the capital city of Riyadh experienced the highest proportion of road traffic accidents (25.3%). In most road traffic accidents, the mission acceptance time was excellent (0-60 s; 93.7%), movement duration was excellent (<120 s; 91.1%), reaching site duration was excellent (<12 min; 57.9%), treatment start time was excellent (<120 s; 76.4%), duration at the scene was poor (>15 min; 40.8%), reaching hospital duration was good (30-60 min; 52.7%), and in-hospital duration was poor (>15 min; 44.1%). Regions, places and types of accidents, age, gender, and nationality of victims were significantly associated with different parameters of response time. Excellent response time was observed in most of the parameters except the duration at the scene, reaching hospital duration, and in-hospital duration. Apart from the initiatives to prevent road traffic accidents, policymakers should focus on strategies to improve accident response time to save lives.

The Epidemiology of Prehospital Ambulance Crashes: A National Experience Across Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

Introduction Road traffic injuries (RTIs) have a significant impact on the healthcare system as well as the global economy. RTIs involving ambulance crashes not only cause delays in patient transfers but also endanger ambulance occupants and other road users. Due to the rising numbers of RTIs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the country's primary provider of prehospital services the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) has established a new Trauma Epidemiology Center (TEC) following the KSA 2030 vision. Objective This current study was conducted to determine the causes and management-related aspects of RTIs involving ambulance crashes in KSA. We aim to highlight the current status and guide further efforts to fill gaps in knowledge and on-ground changes to prevent ambulance crashes, enhance patient care, and reduce morbidity and mortality. Method This is a descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional observational study of ambulance crashes in Saudi Arabia between January 2020 and July 2022. The data was extracted from the SRCA electronic database platform. Results One hundred and sixty accidents were recorded between 2020 and 2022 with the highest proportion of accidents recorded in Riyadh 44.29%; followed by the Eastern Province and Makkah, 15% and 12%, respectively. Ninety percent of ambulance crashes were due to direct collisions and caused by other parties in 58% of cases. It is worth mentioning that ambulance drivers fastened their seat belts in 99% of crashes. Conclusion This study highlights the epidemiology and distribution of prehospital ambulance crashes in the KSA. Most crashes occurred in urban areas with a reasonable contribution of the public in such crashes. Understanding contributing factors related to the vector, driver behaviors, and the surrounding environment is crucial to guide national preventive measures and help decision-makers to implement proper corrective actions.

A combined model for COVID-19 pandemic control: The application of Haddon's matrix and community risk reduction tools combined.

INTRODUCTION: To mitigate morbidity, mortality, and impacts of COVID-19 on health, it was essential to implement a comprehensive framework for COVID-19 control and prevention. A well-recognized tool from the field of injury prevention known as the Haddon matrix was utilized. The matrix states that any accident is affected by the host, agent, and environment. Another well-recognized tool used by the national fire protection association known as the Community risk reduction tool (CRR). The (CRR) tool utilizes the Five E's of Community Risk Reduction. AIM OF THE STUDY: To describe the risk factors that increase the susceptibility and the severity of COVID-19 infection based on the Haddon matrix and the proposed prevention strategies by the CRR tool by using the combined model. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed the literature to assess known factors contributing to COVID-19 susceptibility, infection, and severity of infection. We then used the Haddon matrix to structure, separating human factors from technical and environmental details and timing. We then used the community risk reduction (CRR) model to set all responses and control measures for each element obtained from the Haddon matrix tool. Subsequently, we incorporated both tools to develop the combined model. CONCLUSION: we proposed and implemented a combined model that utilizes the CRR model as the systematic strategy for the more theoretical framework of Haddon's matrix. Combining both models was practical and helpful in planning the preparedness and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia that can be generalized to national and international levels.

Potential Cross-Reactive Immunity to COVID-19 Infection in Individuals With Laboratory-Confirmed MERS-CoV Infection: A National Retrospective Cohort Study From Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of experiments have suggested potential cross-reactive immunity between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and previous human coronaviruses. We conducted the present retrospective cohort study to investigate the relationship between previous Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the relationship between previous MERS-CoV and COVID-19-related hospitalization and mortality. METHODS: Starting in March 2020, we prospectively followed two groups of individuals who tested negative for COVID-19 infection. The first group had a previously confirmed MERS-CoV infection, which was compared to a control group of MERS-negative individuals. The studied cohort was then followed until November 2020 to track evidence of contracting COVID-19 infection. FINDINGS: A total of 82 (24%) MERS-positive and 260 (31%) MERS-negative individuals had COVID-19 infection. Patients in the MERS-positive group had a lower risk of COVID-19 infection than those in the MERS-negative group (Risk ratio [RR] 0.696, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.522-0.929; p =0.014). The risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization in the MERS-positive group was significantly higher (RR 4.036, 95% CI 1.705-9.555; p =0.002). The case fatality rate (CFR) from COVID-19 was 4.9% in the MERS-positive group and 1.2% in the MERS-negative group (p =0.038). The MERS-positive group had a higher risk of death than the MERS-negative group (RR 6.222, 95% CI 1.342-28.839; p =0.019). However, the risk of mortality was similar between the two groups when death was adjusted for age (p =0.068) and age and sex (p =0.057). After controlling for all the independent variables, only healthcare worker occupation and >1 comorbidity were independent predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection. INTERPRETATION: Individuals with previous MERS-CoV infection can exhibit a cross-reactive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study demonstrated that patients with MERS-CoV infection had higher risks of COVID-19-related hospitalization and death than MERS-negative individuals.