@article{ref1,
title="The effect of lights and sirens on critical care transport time",
journal="Journal of emergency medicine",
year="2020",
author="Jansson, Paul S. and Richards, Jeremy B. and Frakes, Michael A. and Cohen, Jason E. and Wilcox, Susan R.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: In the prehospital setting, the use of ambulance lights and sirens (L&S) has been found to result in minor decreases in transport times, but has not been studied in interfacility transportation.   OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the indications for L&S and the impact of L&S on transport times in interfacility critical care transport.   METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis using administrative data from a large, urban critical care transportation organization. The indications for L&S were assessed and the transport times with and without L&S were compared using distance matching for common transport routes. Median times were compared for temporal subgroups.   RESULTS: L&S were used in 7.3% of transports and were most strongly associated with transport directly to the operating room (odds ratio 15.8; 95% confidence interval 6.32-39.50; p < 0.001). The timing of the transport was not associated with L&S use. For all transports, there was a significant decrease in the transport time using L&S, with a median of 8 min saved, corresponding to 19.5% of the overall transportation time without L&S (33 vs. 41 min; p < 0.001). The reduction in transport times was consistent across all temporal subgroups, with a greater time reduction during rush hour transports.   CONCLUSIONS: The use of L&S during interfacility critical care transport was associated with a statistically significant time reduction in this urban, single-system retrospective analysis. Although the use of L&S was not associated with rush-hour transports, the greatest time reduction was associated with L&S transport during these hours.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0736-4679",
doi="10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.06.066",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.06.066"
}