Primary Presenter: Evelyn Qin, Medical Student Summer Research Fellow, Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa.
Additional Authors: Gerene Denning, PhD (Mentor), Charles Jennissen, MD, Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa.
Learning Objectives: -Use geospatial analysis to provide the audience with a deeper understanding of ATV crashes in rural and urban areas of an agricultural state.
-Encourage advocacy that promotes ATV safety and injury prevention for both occupational and recreational riding.
Abstract: Background: Each year, U.S. ATV crashes result in approximately 800 deaths and more than 400,000 injuries. We have recently expanded our unique statewide ATV injury prevention database to include crashes from 2002 through 2013.
Objective: To determine the epidemiology and geospatial characteristics of Iowa’s ATV crashes.
Methods: Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed and crashes were mapped using ArcGIS software.
Results: The statewide database includes 1,951 crashes and 2,330 riders. Crash victims were 79% males and 30% were under 16 years old. Fatalities occurred in 4% of crashes. Thirty-six percent of all crashes were on the road, and the vast majority of all crashes were non-collision events. GIS mapping demonstrated that ATV crashes occurred in both rural and urban areas. Mapping also provided striking visual patterns showing that the pr! oportion of crashes that were fatal was twice as high on the road than off, that on the road the large proportion of crashes were not traffic-related, and that crashes are occurring in remote rural areas with highly limited access to emergency medical services.
Conclusions. GIS mapping represents a powerful tool for ATV research, safety education, public awareness and advocacy. Together these can in turn promote ATV-related death and injury prevention.
A/V needed: LCD Projector/Laptop
Oral presentation, 30 minutes