THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FIRST AID AT THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT, ARRANGED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ACCIDENT AND TRAFFIC MEDICINE (IAATM), OSLO, NORWAY, 20-23 JUNE, 1979. SURVEY OF PAPERS PRESENTED, (NO.1)

Five papers were presented on first-aid capability for accident victims. In an international survey of first aid, the layman was described by Rune Andreasson as the only prompt help available in developing countries; a resolution adopted by the Economic Commission for Europe was mentioned which includes first-aid training of driver's license applicants, and the lack of up-to-date methods of teaching first aid in many countries was cited. Recomendations were also outlined for training persons in first aid and equipping motor vehicles with first-aid kits. Some epidemiological aspects of trauma were discussed by Dr. George Blikra, using traffic accidents to illustrate some statistical problems (underreporting of accidents, differences in defining accident fatalities among countries, inadequate classification of accident causes by hospitals, and lack of reliable data on permanent incapacity). Some accident statistics for various countries and continents were presented. Red Cross activities in first-aid and water safety training were reported by Jurgen Weyand, as well as statistics on fatal water accidents (drowning ranks second or third in the world in accidental death after traffic accidents). The controversial question of whether or not a respiration mask should be used as a complement to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was addressed by Dr. Matts Halldin. A simple anaesthetic mask placed over the victim's face was strongly recommended to reduce hesitation on the part of the rescuer in admininstering artificial respiration. First-aid service in developing countries was discussed by Dr. S. E. Asogwa, with specific reference to Nigeria. It was stated that the absence of first aid and lack of sufficient medical facilities are likely factors responsible for the high fatality rates of accident victims in developing countries.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11198060
• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also HS-029 180 and HS-029 181.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine

  Huddinge University Hospital Center, Traffic Medicine Center
  Stockholm,   Sweden  141 86
• Publication Date: 1979-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 40-43
• Serial:
  • Journal of traffic medicine
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine
  • ISSN: 0345-5564

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Developing countries; Disasters and emergency operations; Driver licensing; Fatalities; First aid; Hazards and emergency operations; Traffic crashes; Training
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386133
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 179
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM