Background Ambulance accidents are an unfortunate indirect result of ambulance emergency calls, which create hazardous environments for personnel, patients, and bystanders. However, in European German-speaking countries, factors contributing to ambulance accidents have not been optimally researched and analyzed. Objective The objective of this study was to extract, analyze, and compare data from online newspaper articles on ambulance accidents for Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. We hope to highlight future strategies to offset the deficit in research data and official registers for prevention of ambulance and emergency vehicle accidents. Methods Ambulance accident data were collected from Austrian, German, and Swiss free web-based daily newspapers, as listed in Wikipedia, for the period between January 2014 and January 2019. All included newspapers were searched for articles reporting ambulance accidents using German terms representing “ambulance” and “ambulance accident.” Characteristics of the accidents were compiled and analyzed. Only ground ambulance accidents were covered. Results In Germany, a total of 597 ambulance accidents were recorded, corresponding to 0.719 (95% CI 0.663-0.779) per 100,000 inhabitants; 453 of these accidents left 1170 people injured, corresponding to 1.409 (95% CI 1.330-1.492) per 100,000 inhabitants, and 28 of these accidents caused 31 fatalities, corresponding to 0.037 (95% CI 0.025-0.053) per 100,000 inhabitants. In Austria, a total of 62 ambulance accidents were recorded, corresponding to 0.698 (95% CI 0.535-0.894) per 100,000 inhabitants; 47 of these accidents left 115 people injured, corresponding to 1.294 (95% CI 1.068-1.553) per 100,000 inhabitants, and 6 of these accidents caused 7 fatalities, corresponding to 0.079 (95% CI 0.032-0.162) per 100,000 inhabitants. In Switzerland, a total of 25 ambulance accidents were recorded, corresponding to 0.293 (95% CI 0.189-0.432) per 100,000 inhabitants; 11 of these accidents left 18 people injured, corresponding to 0.211(95% CI 0.113-0.308) per 100,000 inhabitants. There were no fatalities. In each of the three countries, the majority of the accidents involved another car (77%-81%). In Germany and Switzerland, most accidents occurred at an intersection. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 38.7%, 26%, and 4%, respectively, of ambulance accidents occurred at intersections for which the ambulance had a red light (P<.001). In all three countries, most of the casualties were staff and not uncommonly a third party. Most accidents took place on weekdays and during the daytime. Ambulance accidents were evenly distributed across the four seasons. The direction of travel was reported in 28%-37% of the accidents and the patient was in the ambulance approximately 50% of the time in all countries. The cause of the ambulance accidents was reported to be the ambulance itself in 125 (48.1% of accidents where the cause was reported), 22 (42%), and 8 (40%) accidents in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, respectively (P=.02), and another vehicle in 118 (45.4%), 29 (56%), and 9 (45%) accidents, respectively (P<.001). A total of 292 accidents occurred while blue lights and sirens were used, which caused 3 deaths and 577 injuries. Conclusions This study draws attention to much needed auxiliary sources of data that may allow for creation of a contemporary registry of all ambulance accidents in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. To improve risk management and set European standards, it should be mandatory to collect standardized goal-directed and representative information using various sources (including the wide range presented by the press and social media), which should then be made available for audit, analysis, and research.
BACKGROUND Ambulance accidents are an unfortunate indirect result of ambulance emergency calls, and create hazardous environments for the personnel, patients and bystanders. We have extracted, analysed and compared data from reports in online newspapers on ambulance accidents in Switzerland, Germany Austria. OBJECTIVE Ambulance accidents are an unfortunate indirect result of ambulance emergency calls, and create hazardous environments for the personnel, patients and bystanders. We have extracted, analysed and compared data from reports in online newspapers on ambulance accidents in Switzerland, Germany Austria. METHODS Ambulance accident data were collected from Swiss, German and Austrian free web-based daily newspapers between January 2014 and January 2019, as listed in Wikipedia. All included newspapers were searched for articles reporting ambulance accidents, using the following German search terms: “ambulance, ambulance vehicle, ambulance car, accident ambulance, accident ambulance car”. Characteristics of the accidents were compiled and then interpreted using Excel. Only ground ambulance accidents were covered in this study. RESULTS In Switzerland, a total of 19 ambulance accidents was recorded, corresponding to 0.222/100,000 inhabitants. 10 of these accidents left 17 persons injured, corresponding to 0.199/100000 inhabitants. There were no fatalities. In Germany, a total of 597 ambulance accidents was recorded, corresponding to 0.719/100,000 inhabitants. 453 of these accidents left 1170 persons injured, corresponding to 1.409/100,000 inhabitants. 28 of these accidents caused 31 fatalities, corresponding to 0.037/100,000 inhabitants. In Austria, a total of 62 ambulance accidents was recorded, corresponding to 0.698/100,000 inhabitants. 47 of these accidents left 115 persons injured, corresponding to 1.294/100,000 inhabitants. Six of these accidents caused seven fatalities, corresponding to 0.079/100,000 inhabitants. In each of the three countries, the majority of the accidents involved another car (73% to 81%). In Germany and Switzerland, most accidents occurred at an intersection. In Germany, 38.77% of ambulance accidents occurred at intersections showing red for the ambulance, in Austria 26.67%, and in Switzerland 5.26%. In all three countries, most of the casualties were staff, not uncommonly a third party. Most accidents took place on weekdays and during the daytime. Ambulance accidents were evenly spread across the four seasons. The direction of travel was reported in 28% to 37% of the accidents and the patient was in the ambulance approximately 50% of the time in all countries. The cause of the ambulance accidents was reported to be the ambulance itself in 125 accidents in Germany (48.08% of accidents where the cause was reported), 22 accidents (42.31%) in Austria and 6 accidents (37.50%) in Switzerland; and another vehicle in 118 accidents (45.38%) in Germany, 29 (55.77%) in Austria and 8 (50.00%) in Switzerland. An overall total of 291 accidents while blue lights and sirens were used, caused three deaths and 576 injuries. CONCLUSIONS An ambulance accident delays the definitive treatment of the patient, can exacerbate or cause further injury and proves to be an expensive outcome. Whilst responding to an emergency call, ambulance drivers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, are accountable for damages, injury, death and nonadherence to traffic regulations. This may not always be equitable. In European German speaking countries, contributing factors have not been optimally researched and analysed. In order to improve risk management and set European standards, it should be mandatory to collect standardised goal-directed representative information, using various sources (including the wide range presented by the media), which should then be made available for audit, analysis and research.
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