In total, 207,864 requests for help arrived in 2023 at the single emergency number 112 in Sardinia and managed by the two operations centers in Cagliari and Sassari. The first (121,859 requests) delegated for the territories of Cagliari, Carbonia-Iglesias, Oristano, Medio Campidano, the second (86,005) for those of Sassari, Olbia-Tempio, Nuoro, Ogliastra.
Compared to the previous year, 2023 recorded an increase in missions of 1.7%.
The two centers coordinate the rescue of calls filtered by the Single European Number 112 which geolocalises the location of the call and activates 118 if the rescue is of a medical nature. The operators evaluate the emergency by assigning a severity code and examining the availability of vehicles in the area, sending the most suitable and closest vehicle.
THE BUDGET - In detail, from 1 January to 31 December 2023 the interventions cataloged with the most serious codes (red) were 17.6% throughout Sardinia while the yellow ones represent 67%, the green ones 15%. 3% of the total.
Traumas were the most frequent pathologies with 44,913 cases in 2023, followed by operations for neurological problems with 26,919 cases and cardiovascular ones with 25,542. Finally, the cases of respiratory pathologies that required 118 intervention were 18,540, while 18,466 cases were recorded in the gastroenterology field and 6,581 interventions for psychiatric problems. This is followed by urological (5,007 cases), infectious (3,193), neoplastic (3,102) and toxicological (1,947) pathologies.
HELICOPTER RESCUE - As regards the helicopter rescue, active for 5 years in the regional territory, the Areus service intervened to support the tire network with 1,979 missions of which 1,421 primary type rescue interventions (urgent emergency) and 558 type interventions secondary for transfers between Spoke hospitals and regional Hubs. On the other hand, 53 patients were transferred outside the region, 28 of which were pediatric.
The periods of greatest activity of the air ambulance range from March to November with an average of 150 interventions per month with peaks of 234 recorded in August. Those in inaccessible places totaled 80.
THE RESOURCES - The emergency system managed by Areus has 24 advanced vehicles, 1 medical vehicle, 3 medical ambulances, 3 helicopters located in the bases of Elmas, Alghero and Olbia, and 192 base stations managed by volunteers from cooperatives and associations affiliated with 118 for covering a territory of 24 thousand square kilometers, and a population of one million and 600 thousand inhabitants, with a density of one third compared to the national average and a road network that is not always efficient as well as devoid of motorways.
Areus, releasing its annual report, took the opportunity to thank «all the crews, doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and volunteer rescuers who every day with their dedication and professionalism guarantee the best coverage of the Sardinian rescue network. A notable effort of men and means which is preparing to be strengthened in 2024 thanks to the recent financing from the Financial institution".
(Unioneonline/ss)