Emergency department visits from a local amusement park.
Publication/Presentation Date
7-1-2011
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are limited published data examining Emergency Department (ED) presentations associated with amusement parks, and even fewer data on presentations not associated with roller coaster rides.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the spectrum of medical and traumatic presentations to two EDs from nearby amusement parks.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review of prospectively identified, enrolled, and surveyed patients was conducted at two EDs in Pennsylvania during the summer of 2006. Any patient presenting with a medical or traumatic complaint that occurred within 12 h of ED presentation and was associated with a visit to the local amusement park was prospectively identified and details of the visit were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS: There were a total of 325 discharge diagnoses for the 296 ED visits identified; 74% of discharge diagnoses were trauma related. The most common traumatic diagnoses were laceration (27%) and head injury or concussion (14%). The most common non-traumatic diagnosis was heat-related illness (24%). Twenty-nine percent of discharge diagnoses were directly associated with amusement park rides. Eighty-nine percent of patients were discharged home. There were no mortalities reported.
CONCLUSION: The majority of ED visits from nearby amusement parks were benign and did not require hospitalization.
Volume
41
Issue
1
First Page
14
Last Page
20
ISSN
0736-4679
Published In/Presented At
Olympia, R. P., Brady, J., Rupp, V., & Lansenderfer, C. (2011). Emergency department visits from a local amusement park. The Journal of emergency medicine, 41(1), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.04.052
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
19022606
Department(s)
Patient Care Services / Nursing
Document Type
Article