Accident prevention activity and accident experience in the Republic of Korea military.

INTRODUCTION: According to data released by the Korea National Statistical Office, the number of accidents has been decreasing since 2012. However, a considerable number of deaths related to safety accidents (23-46 deaths) are still reported annually. This study aimed to observe the correlation between accident prevention activities in the Republic of Korea (ROK) military and the incidence of safety accidents. METHODS: The study used data from the 2014-2015 Military Health Survey and included 13 618 responses (Army: 8414 (61.8%); Navy/Marine: 2262 (16.6%); Air Force: 2942 (21.6%)) from the ROK military personnel. Accident experiences and thoughts on accident prevention activities were self-reported. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the validity of accident prevention activity and accident experience. RESULTS: Of the 13 618 military personnel who responded, 12.0% reported experiencing safety accidents in the military and 1020 (7.5%) felt that accident prevention activities in the military were insufficient. On logistic regression analysis, we found a significant difference (insufficiency OR=1.56, CI 1.31 to 1.86). In particular, military personnel who belong to the Army and Navy were more likely to think that accident prevention activities were insufficient. In addition, military personnel who experienced falls/slips, crash, and laceration/puncture wound/amputation/penetrating wound accidents were more likely to think accident prevention activities were insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that accident prevention activities in the military and accident experiences were related. It is necessary for the ROK Ministry of Defense, Army, Navy and Air Force headquarters to re-evaluate their accident prevention systems.

Queda em adultos idosos: considerações sobre a regulação do equilíbrio, estratégias posturais e exercício físico / Fall in older adults: considerations on balance regulation, postural strategies, and physical exercise

Quedas são comuns entre a população idosa, consideradas como questão de saúde pública, responsáveis por alto grau de morbidade e mortalidade. Isso evidencia a realização de estudos teóricos que qualifiquem o entendimento sobre a relação entre queda e seus fatores de risco; a fisiopatologia dos distúrbios do equilíbrio e da marcha; e a identificação precoce da "queda idiopática" (sem causa evidente). Assim, com base na literatura especializada, o presente estudo apresenta uma visão geral sobre o papel dos sistemas sensoriais responsáveis pela regulação do controle postural, evidenciando as principais estratégias utilizadas por idosos para a manutenção do controle postural e os benefícios proporcionados pela prática regular do exercício físico para a prevenção de quedas de idosos. Como resultado, é apresentado um modelo ilustrativo sobre a sequência de estratégias utilizadas por idosos para reestabelecer a posição ereta em diferentes fases de perturbação postural. Conclui-se que o baixo desempenho da atenção, da memória e de funções executivas eleva a instabilidade postural e reduz a velocidade da marcha, aumentando o risco de quedas. Nesse contexto, a prática regular de exercícios físicos é capaz de reduzir significativamente a taxa de queda de idosos. Aconselham-se a prática de exercícios programados, que agreguem tarefas cognitivas com grau de desafio da instabilidade de moderado a alto, e a prática semanal de duas a três horas.

Common among the older population, falls are considered a public health issue, accounting for high rates of morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is a need for theoretical studies that improve the understanding of the relationship between falls and their risk factors; the pathophysiology of balance and gait disorders; and early identification of "idiopathic fall" (with no apparent cause). Based on the specialized literature, the present study provides an overview of the role of sensory systems responsible for regulating postural control, showing the main strategies that older adults use to maintain postural control and the benefits of regular physical exercise for prevention of falls in older adults. Then, a graphic model describing the sequence of strategies used by older adults to regain an upright stance in different phases of postural perturbation is presented. In conclusion, poor performance of attention, memory, and executive functions increases postural instability and reduces gait speed, thereby raising the risk of falls. In this context, regular physical exercise may significantly reduce the rate of falls in older adults. Planned exercises are recommended and should involve cognitive tasks with moderate-to-high level of instability for two to three hours/week.

Trends in the wear of personal flotation devices (PFDs) in the UK 2009-2017.

Around 372 000 people drown every year globally. In countries, such as the UK, a large proportion of these deaths are due to recreational boating accidents, and a dominant factor influencing the outcome is whether the person was wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). The rate of PFD wear is low around the world, with reported rates ranging from 5% to 40%. In an effort to combat this, the UK has been running an education campaign since 2009 to try and increase PFD wear. In this contribution, 9 years of observational data show that the educational efforts have had little impact on the rate of wear over time. Activity type and age both influenced wear rates, with kayakers and children significantly more likely to wear PFDs. This study shows that education has been ineffective and there needs to be some consideration of regulatory approaches in order to reduce drowning.

Advances in Mexico in the middle of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the progress towards the accomplishment of the expected goal in the middle of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 in Mexico and its states. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of road traffic deaths in Mexico between 1999 and 2015. We projected the trend for the period 2011-2020 using a time series analysis (autoregressive integrated moving average models). We used the value of the Aikaike Information Criterion to determine the best model for the national level and its 32 states. RESULTS: Mexico is progressing, approaching the proposed goal, which translates into 10,856 potentially prevented deaths in the five-year period from 2011 to 2015. This was due to a decrease in the number of deaths of motor vehicle occupants, as the deaths of pedestrians and motorcyclists were higher than expected. At least one third of the states had values below their goal; although the mortality rate remains unacceptably high in five of them. We identified four states with more deaths than those originally projected and other states with an increasing trend; thus, both cases need to strengthen their prevention actions. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis can allow us to see the progress of the country in the middle of the Decade of Action, as well as identify the challenges in the prevention of traffic injuries in vulnerable users. It contributes with elements that provide a basis for a need to rethink both the national goal and the goal of the different states.

The changing epidemiology of open fractures in vehicle occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.

AIMS: To investigate the changing epidemiology of open fractures in vehicle occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on all non-spinal open fractures admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh after a road traffic accident between 1988 and 2010 were collected and analysed to provide information about the changing epidemiology in different patient groups. Demographic information was collected on all patients with the severity of injury being analysed with the Injury Severity Score (ISS), Musculoskeletal Index (MSI) and the number of open fractures. The severity of the open fractures was analysed using the Gustilo classification. The 23-year study period was divided into four shorter periods and the results were compared. RESULTS: There were 696 patients treated in 23 years. Analysis showed that the incidence of RTA open fractures initially fell in both males and females and continued to fall in females during the 23 years. In males it levelled off about 2000. The age of the female patients also fell during the study period but it did not change in males. The only patient group to show an increased incidence of open fractures were cyclists. In vehicle occupants the incidence fell throughout the study period but it levelled off in pedestrians and motorcyclists. There was no difference in the severity of injury in any group during the study period. The most severe open fractures were those of the distal femur and femoral diaphysis although open tibial diaphyseal fractures were the most common fracture in all patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: Improved car design and road safety legislation has resulted in a reduction in the incidence of open fractures in vehicle occupants, pedestrians and motorcyclists. The most obvious group to have benefitted from this are older female pedestrians. The only group to show an increase in age during the study period were male motorcyclists.

Incidência de quedas e ações preventivas em um Hospital Universitário / Incidencia de caídas y acciones preventivas en un Hospital Universitario / Incidence of falls and preventive actions in a University Hospital

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever a incidência das quedas e a sua relação com as ações preventivas desenvolvidas em um hospital universitário brasileiro. Método Estudo longitudinal retrospectivo. Foram incluídos pacientes adultos, internados em unidades clínicas, cirúrgicas, psiquiátrica e de emergência, que sofreram queda na instituição, e tiveram o evento notificado no período de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro de 2015. Os dados foram coletados no sistema de informação gerenciais da instituição e analisados no programa estatístico SPSS. Resultados Ocorreram 2.296 quedas, com uma média de incidência de 1,70 quedas/1.000 pacientes-dia. Houve aumento na incidência de quedas no período de 2011 (1,61) a 2012 (2,03). Nos anos seguintes, a incidência de quedas apresentou redução de 1,83 quedas/1.000 pacientes-dia em 2013 para 1,42 quedas/1.000 pacientes-dia em 2015. A incidência de quedas acompanhou a implementação de ações preventivas, sugerindo impacto destas intervenções na redução da ocorrência do evento. Conclusão Os achados demonstram a importância da implementação de intervenções preventivas na redução da incidência de quedas em pacientes hospitalizados.

RESUMEN Objetivo Describir la incidencia de las caídas y su relación con las acciones preventivas desarrolladas en un hospital universitario brasileño. Método Estudio longitudinal retrospectivo. Fueron incluidos pacientes adultos, ingresados en unidades clínicas, quirúrgicas, psiquiátricas y de emergencia, que sufrieron caída en el centro y tuvieron el evento notificado en el período de enero de 2011 a diciembre de 2015. Los datos fueron recolectados en el sistema de información de gestión del centro y analizados en el programa estadístico SPSS. Resultados Ocurrieron 2.296 caídas, con un promedio de incidencia de 1,70 caídas/1.000 pacientes-día. Hubo incremento en la incidencia de caídas en el período de 2011 (1,61) a 2012 (2,03). En los años siguientes, la incidencia de caídas presentó reducción de 1,83 caídas/1.000 pacientesdía en 2013 para 1,42 caídas/1.000 pacientes-día en 2015. La incidencia de caídas acompañó la implantación de acciones preventivas, sugiriendo el impacto de dichas intervenciones en la reducción de la ocurrencia del evento. Conclusión Los hallazgos demuestran la importancia de la implantación de intervenciones preventivas en la reducción de la incidencia de caídas en pacientes hospitalizados.

ABSTRACT Objective Describing the incidence of falls and its relation with preventive actions developed in a Brazilian university hospital. Method A retrospective longitudinal study. Hospitalized adult patients in the clinical, surgical, psychiatric and emergency units who suffered a fall in the institution, and who had the event notified in the period from January 2011 to December 2015 were included in the study. The data were collected from the institution's management information system and analyzed in the SPSS statistical program. Results There were 2,296 falls, with a mean incidence of 1.70 falls/1,000 patients per day. An increase in the incidence of falls was observed in the period from 2011 (1.61) to 2012 (2.03). In the following years, the incidence of falls decreased from 1.83 falls/1,000 patients per day in 2013 to 1.42 falls/1,000 patients per day in 2015. The incidence of falls accompanied an implementation of preventive actions, suggesting the impact of such interventions in reducing the event occurrence. Conclusion The findings demonstrate the importance of implementing preventive interventions in reducing the incidence of falls in hospitalized patients.

Advances in Mexico in the middle of the decade of action for road safety 2011-2020 / Avances en México a la mitad del decenio de acción para la seguridad vial 2011-2020

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the progress towards the accomplishment of the expected goal in the middle of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 in Mexico and its states. METHODS This is a secondary analysis of road traffic deaths in Mexico between 1999 and 2015. We projected the trend for the period 2011-2020 using a time series analysis (autoregressive integrated moving average models). We used the value of the Aikaike Information Criterion to determine the best model for the national level and its 32 states. RESULTS Mexico is progressing, approaching the proposed goal, which translates into 10,856 potentially prevented deaths in the five-year period from 2011 to 2015. This was due to a decrease in the number of deaths of motor vehicle occupants, as the deaths of pedestrians and motorcyclists were higher than expected. At least one third of the states had values below their goal; although the mortality rate remains unacceptably high in five of them. We identified four states with more deaths than those originally projected and other states with an increasing trend; thus, both cases need to strengthen their prevention actions. CONCLUSIONS The analysis can allow us to see the progress of the country in the middle of the Decade of Action, as well as identify the challenges in the prevention of traffic injuries in vulnerable users. It contributes with elements that provide a basis for a need to rethink both the national goal and the goal of the different states.

RESUMEN OBJETIVO Analizar el avance de la meta esperada a mitad del Decenio de Acción para la Seguridad Vial 2011-2020 en México y sus entidades federativas. MÉTODOS Análisis secundario de las muertes por accidentes de tránsito en México para el 1999-2015. Se proyectó la tendencia para el periodo 2011-2020 utilizando análisis de series de tiempo (modelos autorregresivos integrados de medias móviles). Se utilizó el valor del Criterio de Información de Aikaike para determinar el mejor modelo para el nivel nacional y sus 32 entidades federativas. RESULTADOS México va avanzando cercano a la meta propuesta, lo que se ha traducido en 10,856 defunciones potencialmente prevenidas en el quinquenio 2011 a 2015. Esto ha sido a expensas de una disminución en el número de muertes de ocupantes de vehículos de motor; ya que las muertes en peatones y motociclistas han ido por arriba de lo que se esperaba. Al menos una tercera parte de las entidades federativas tuvo el número de defunciones por debajo de su meta; aunque en cinco de ellas la tasa de mortalidad continúa inaceptablemente alta. Se identificaron cuatro entidades con más muertes que las proyectadas originalmente y otras con tendencia al incremento donde se requiere, para ambos casos, fortalecer las acciones de prevención. CONCLUSIONES El análisis realizado permite observar los avances del país a mitad del Decenio de Acción, así como identificar los retos en materia de prevención de lesiones causadas por el tránsito en usuarios vulnerables. Aporta elementos para soportar la necesidad de replantear tanto la meta nacional como la de las distintas entidades federativas.

Trends in motorcycle helmet use in Vietnam: results from a four-year study.

OBJECTIVES: Helmet use is a major risk factor for road traffic injuries and fatalities. This study sought to determine the state of helmet use in Ha Nam and Ninh Binh provinces in Vietnam, and ascertain knowledge, attitudes, and practices of helmet use over time. STUDY DESIGN: Observational helmet use studies, and roadside knowledge, attitudes, and practice surveys. METHODS: Data were collected through observational helmet use studies at multiple sites in Ha Nam and Ninh Binh provinces over 14 rounds between June 2011 and December 2014. Six rounds of knowledge, attitude, and practice surveys were administered at gas stations between December 2011 and July 2014. Trend analysis and negative binomial regressions were used to analyze trend data. RESULTS: Between June 2011 and December 2014, 301,981 helmet-use observations were conducted in Ha Nam and Ninh Binh. Correct helmet use increased significantly (P < 0.01) in Ha Nam from 34.3% to 76.9% (P < 0.01), while use in Ninh Binh increased from 68.9% to 72.2% (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Helmet use has improved statistically significantly in Ha Nam but not in Ninh Binh. Ceiling effects may have limited the scope of improvements in Ninh Binh province.

Trends in moderate to severe paediatric trauma in Central Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: Trend analyses of hospital discharge data can raise signals for prevention policies, but are often flawed by changes in health care consumption. This is a trend analysis of the clinical incidence of paediatric trauma that used international criteria to overcome this bias. The objective is to describe trends in clinical incidence of moderate to severe paediatric trauma, and to identify target groups for prevention activities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Included were all paediatric trauma patients (0-18 years) that were discharged from the hospitals of trauma care region Central Netherlands from 1996 to 2009. Selection was made on ISS ≥ 4, and on trauma related International Classification of Diseases diagnostic codes, and trauma related external causes of injury and poisoning codes. Trend analyses were performed using Poisson loglinear regression with correction for age and gender. RESULTS: 23,682 Patients were included, the mean incidence rate was 477/100,000 person-years. Since 2001 the incidence rate of moderate to severe trauma increased with 1.1% annually (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.5), caused by an increase of falls (3.9%, 95% CI 3.3-4.5), sport injuries (5.4%, 95% CI 4.3-6.5), and bicycle injuries (3.8%, 95% CI 2.8-4.8). The incidence of falls and sport injuries peaked in young children (0-9) and older boys (10-18) respectively. Bicycle injuries affected all children between 5 and 18. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of paediatric trauma in the centre of the Netherlands increased since 2001. Trend analyses on moderate and severe injuries may identify target groups for prevention in a trauma region.

Effects on accidents of changes in the use of studded tyres in major cities in Norway: a long-term investigation.

This paper reports the findings of two studies made eleven years apart in Norway (Fridstrøm, 2000; Elvik and Kaminska, 2011) to evaluate effects on accidents of changes in the use of studded tyres in major cities in Norway. The first study covered the period from 1991 to 2000, the second study covered the period from 2002 to 2009. In both these periods, large changes in the percentage of cars using studded tyres were found in the cities that were included in the study. There was, in most cities, a tendency for the use of studded tyres to go down. Effects of these changes on injury accidents were evaluated by means of negative binomial regression models, using city and day as the unit of analysis, and including more than twenty explanatory variables in order to control for confounding factors. The effects of changes in the percentage of cars using studded tyres were well described by an accident modification function (dose-response curve), relating the size of changes in the number of accident to the size of the change in the use of studded tyres. Accidents during the season when the use of studded tyres is permitted were found to increase by about 5 percent if the use of studded tyres was reduced by 25 percentage points (e.g. from 50 to 25 percent) and to decline by about 2 percent when the use of studded tyres increased by 20 percentage points.

Trends in prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of helmet use in Cambodia: results from a two year study.

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major cause of both morbidity and mortality globally. Relative to countries with similar economic patterns both within and outside of South-East Asia, Cambodia's road traffic fatality rate is high, with motorcyclists accounting for more than half of all fatalities as a result of head injuries. Despite the initiation of national motorcycle helmet legislation for Cambodian drivers in 2009, helmet use among both drivers and passengers remains low. METHODS: This study adopted a two-pronged approach to assess the current status of and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) towards helmet use among drivers and passengers in five provinces in Cambodia. The objective was to better understand helmet use over a two year period since the introduction of the 2009 legislation. Researchers conducted both (1) direct observation of daytime and nighttime helmet use (January 2011-January 2013) and (2) roadside KAP interviews with motorcyclists (November 2010-November 2012). RESULTS: The observed helmet rate across all study sites was 33% during nighttime and 48% during daytime, with proportions up to ten times higher among drivers compared with passengers. Self-reported helmet use was higher than observed use. Within the past 30 days, 60% of respondents reported that they "always" wore a helmet when they were drivers while only 24% reported they "always" wore a helmet as a passenger. Reported barriers for use among drivers included: "driving route", "forgetfulness", and "inconvenience/discomfort." CONCLUSION: Despite awareness of the protective value of helmets, motorcycle helmet use rates remain low in Cambodia. Many misconceptions remain in Cambodia regarding helmet use, including that they are unnecessary for short distance or at low speeds. These serve as an important barrier to helmet use, which, if dispelled and coupled with visible and regular enforcement, may significantly reduce the number of motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities.

The development of railway safety in Finland.

This study reviews the development of railway safety in Finland from 1959 to 2008. The results show that the level of safety has greatly improved over the past five decades. The total number of railway fatalities did not show any obvious decreasing or increasing trend during the first decade, but since the early 1970s the annual number of fatalities has decreased from about 100 to 20. The estimated overall annual reduction per year from 1970 to 2008 was 5.4% (with a 95% confidence interval from -8.2% to -2.6%). The reduction in subcategories per million train-kilometres from 1959 to 2008 was 4.4% per year for passengers, 8.3% for employees, 5.0% for road users at level crossings and 3.6% for others (mainly trespassers). The safety improvement for passengers and staff was probably influenced by the introduction of central locking of doors in passenger cars and improved procedures to protect railway employees working on the tracks. The number of road users killed at level crossings has fallen due to the installation of barriers and the construction of overpasses and underpasses at crossings with dense traffic, removal of level crossings, and an improvement of conditions such as visibility at crossings. The number of trespasser fatalities has seen the least decline. Key plans for the future include further reduction of the number of level crossings on the state railway network from the current roughly 3500-2200 by 2025, and involving communities in safety work related to railway trespassers.