Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 13(3)2016 Mar 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26950137
ABSTRACT
Residents in the Canadian Arctic regularly travel in remote, backcountry areas. This can pose risks for injuries and death, and create challenges for emergency responders and health systems. We aimed to describe the extent and characteristics of media-reported backcountry travel emergencies in two Northern Canadian territories (Nunavut and Northwest Territories). A case-series of all known incidents between 2004 and 2013 was established by identifying events in an online search of two media outlets, Nunatsiaq News and Northern News Services. We identified 121 incidents; these most commonly involved young men, and death occurred in just over 25% of cases. The territories differed in the seasonal patterns. News media provides a partial source of data to estimate the extent and characteristics of backcountry emergencies. This information is needed to improve emergency preparedness and health system responsiveness in the Arctic.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Population Groups
/
Emergencies
/
Public Health Surveillance
/
Health Services Accessibility
/
Health Services, Indigenous
/
Medically Underserved Area
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:
2016
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada