OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe individuals seeking care for injury at a major emergency department (ED) in southern Puerto Rico in the months after Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017. METHODS: After informed consent, we used a modified version of the Natural Disaster Morbidity Surveillance Form to determine why patients were visiting the ED during October 16, 2017-March 28, 2018. We analyzed visits where injury was reported as the primary reason for visit and whether it was hurricane-related. RESULTS: Among 5 116 patients, 573 (11%) reported injury as the primary reason for a visit. Of these, 10% were hurricane-related visits. The most common types of injuries were abrasions, lacerations, and cuts (43% of all injury visits and 50% of hurricane-related visits). The most common mechanisms of injury were falls, slips, trips (268, 47%), and being hit by/or against an object (88, 15%). Most injury visits occurred during the first 3 months after the hurricane. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance after Hurricane Maria identified injury as the reason for a visit for about 1 in 10 patients visiting the ED, providing evidence on the patterns of injuries in the months following a hurricane. Public health and emergency providers can use this information to anticipate health care needs after a disaster.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe individuals seeking care for injury at a major emergency department (ED) in southern Puerto Rico in the months after Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017. METHODS: After informed consent, we used a modified version of the Natural Disaster Morbidity Surveillance Form to determine why patients were visiting the ED during October 16, 2017-March 28, 2018. We analyzed visits where injury was reported as the primary reason for visit and whether it was hurricane-related. RESULTS: Among 5 116 patients, 573 (11%) reported injury as the primary reason for a visit. Of these, 10% were hurricane-related visits. The most common types of injuries were abrasions, lacerations, and cuts (43% of all injury visits and 50% of hurricane-related visits). The most common mechanisms of injury were falls, slips, trips (268, 47%), and being hit by/or against an object (88, 15%). Most injury visits occurred during the first 3 months after the hurricane. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance after Hurricane Maria identified injury as the reason for a visit for about 1 in 10 patients visiting the ED, providing evidence on the patterns of injuries in the months following a hurricane. Public health and emergency providers can use this information to anticipate health care needs after a disaster.
Authors: Amy H Schnall; Amy F Wolkin; Rebecca Noe; Leslie B Hausman; Petra Wiersma; Karl Soetebier; Susan T Cookson Journal: Prehosp Disaster Med Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 2.040
Authors: Elizabeth G Marshall; Shou-En Lu; Zhengyang Shi; Joel Swerdel; Marija Borjan; Margaret E Lumia Journal: Disaster Med Public Health Prep Date: 2016-04-15 Impact factor: 1.385
Authors: Rebecca S Noe; Amy H Schnall; Amy F Wolkin; Michelle N Podgornik; April D Wood; Jeanne Spears; Sharon A R Stanley Journal: South Med J Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 0.954
Authors: Cassandra L Hua; Kali S Thomas; Lindsay J Peterson; Kathryn Hyer; David M Dosa Journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc Date: 2020-11-15 Impact factor: 4.669
Authors: Laura Ramírez-Martínez; Mariella Chamah-Nicolás; Mariely Nieves-Plaza; Javier Ruiz-Rodríguez; Pedro Ruiz-Medina; Ediel O Ramos-Melendez; Pablo Rodríguez-Ortiz Journal: Inj Epidemiol Date: 2020-06-01
Authors: Samantha L Waddell; Dushyantha T Jayaweera; Mehdi Mirsaeidi; John C Beier; Naresh Kumar Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-09 Impact factor: 4.614