Evaluation of Emergency Admissions Due to Animal-Related Incidents Based on Prehospital Emergency Medicine Data: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION

Animal injuries, especially dog bites, are a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries. The majority of these injuries lead to emergency healthcare visits and may have serious consequences such as infection risk and organ injuries. There is a limited number of studies on the demographic and operational characteristics of animal-related 112 emergency visits in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to conduct research to fill this gap.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included animal-caused cases received by Ankara 112 Emergency Health Services Emergency Health Automation System (ASOS) between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023. A total of 3457 cases were analyzed. Data were evaluated using the IBM SPSS 27.0 program.

RESULTS

There was an overall decreasing trend in animal-related emergency admissions between 2019 and 2023. Most cases were recorded during the summer season, especially in July. Male patients predominated (61.2%), with the majority of cases (81.7%) occurring in urban areas. Dog bites were the most common cause, accounting for 49.3% of cases. In the majority of cases, transportation time was below the Ministry of Health quality standards.

CONCLUSION

Dog bites account for the majority of animal-related emergency admissions. The increase in cases during the summer months emphasizes the importance of social awareness and preventive strategies. The findings of the study provide an important reference for improving emergency health services and developing strategies to prevent such cases.