Sadana

1. Public Behavior when
encountered with a Road Traffic
Accident.
Silva H.N.S1
Samarakoon S.B.R.S.M2
Silva S.N3
1 Diploma student of nursing following at International Institute of Health Sciences – Welisara Sri Lanka
2 Diploma student of nursing following at International Institute of Health Sciences – Welisara Sri Lanka
3 (Supervisor) Medical officer; National Hospital of Sri Lanka

2. Content
• Introduction
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Recommendation
• References
• Acknowledgement

3. Introduction
• WHO states that in 2014 Sri Lanka has reached 2,773 of
total deaths due to road traffic accidents.( RTA)
• 14000 individuals’ sustained injuries due to RTAs annually.
• Previous studies has shown that first encounter were done
by policemen, three wheel drivers and pedestrians
• Very often victim’s condition was aggravated due to
unskilled attempts made by the responders while
management of the victim’s wounds, moving and positioning
of the victims and also mainly while transportation of the
victims.

4. Objectives
• To assess:
▫ The practices of the urban Sri Lankan public
when encountered with RTAs.
▫ The possible risks activities/ events that may
lead to worsening of injuries suffered by the
RTA victims.

5. Methodology
• Design: Qualitative; Ethnographic Study
Design (Using a video-recordings – 14 containing ~
30 accidents)
• Population: Urban and Suburban Sri Lankans
• Sample: Those captured on formal and
informal news video recordings.

6. Methodology
• Data Collection method: Video Recordings of RTAs
in Sri Lanka; available on
▫ Google Videos
▫ Youtube videos
▫ News and Tabloid web sites
( Key Words: RTA Sri Lanka, Accident Sri Lanka, Crash Sri
Lanka)
• Data Analysis: Qualitative analysis of the recordings
by observation. Practices of Urban public: noted. Risk
activities – imaged.

8. Overview
• Majority of the volunteers involved were middle
aged males: almost none were females
• Mostly motorbikes and three-wheelers were
involved
• Most responded within 2-3 seconds
• Out of those who were seen on the video: more
were actively involved than just observing.
• Leadership, Organizing or Triage kind of
activities were not noticed.

10. Unsupported Fractures

11. Unsupported Fractures

12. Spinal Injury Risks

13. Spinal Injury Risks / Assessment
Deficiency

14. Spinal Injury Risks

15. Spinal Injury Risks

16. Spinal Injury Risks

19. Opportunity For a Leadership Role

22. Discussion
• During a RTAs, initial intervention is performed by
policemen,three wheel drivers and pedestrians.
• The public actively engages in providing aid despite
their inappropriate practices in giving first aid
• Lack of leadership and guidance was also noted.

23. Recommendations
• Increase public awareness
• Increase training programs
• Regional leaders : Traffic Police
▫ Leadership opportunity : As uniformed officials
• Local stakeholders : Three-wheel drivers
▫ Educate (What TO do and What NOT To do)
▫ Empower ( Give value to their contribution )

24. References
• Incidence of road injuries in Sri Lanka. (2015). Retrieved 2015, from lobal burden of road
injuries : http://roadinjuries.globalburdenofinjuries.org/sri-lanka
• Road accidents . (2015). Retrieved 10 10, 2015, from Ministry of transport and civil
aviation :
http://www.transport.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=279
&Itemid=171&lang=en
• Road traffic accidents . (2015). Retrieved 2015, from Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka Police Road
Accident Statistics : http://nada.statistics.gov.lk/index.php/catalog/1138
• World health ranking . (2015). Retrieved 2015, from Death rate :
http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/sri-lanka-road-traffic-accidents
• Road traffic injuries. (2015). Retrieved 2015, from WHO:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs358/en/

25. Acknowledgement
• I express my sincere gratitude to
▫ All the participants
▫ To International Institute of Health Sciences
Specially
▫ My supervisor Dr. Nishan Silva
▫ Dr. kithsiri Edirisinghe
▫ And all the staff members at IIHS

26. THANK YOU..