Epidemiologic Characteristics of Injured School-age Patients Transported via Emergency Medical Services in Korea

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of injuries of school-aged children transported via emergency medical services (EMS) that occurred in schools by comparing with injuries that occurred outside of school. METHODS: Data from the 119 EMS from 2012 to 2014 were analyzed. School and non-school injuries were analyzed in children 6 to 17 years of age. The epidemiologic characteristics were assessed according to school-age groups; low-grade primary (6-8 years), high-grade primary (9-13 years), middle (13-15 years) and high (15-17 years) school. Gender-stratified multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the risks of school injury in each age group. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 167,104 children with injury were transported via 119 ambulances. Of these injuries, 13.3% occurred at schools. Boys accounted for 76.9% of school injuries and middle school children accounted for a significantly greater proportion (39.6%) of school injuries (P < 0.001). The most frequent mechanisms of injury at school were falls (43.8%). The peak times for school injury occurrence were lunch time (13:00-13:59) in all age groups. Multivariate regression identified the risky age groups as high-grade primary (odds ratio [OR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.20) and middle school-aged boys (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.74-1.90) and middle school-aged girls (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.21-1.40). CONCLUSION: Notable epidemiologic differences exist between in- and out-of-school injuries. The age groups at risk for school injuries differ by gender.