MOHAMED KHOULAIDI

DOHA A RECENT study published in Journal Emergency Medical Trauma Acute Care (JEMTAC), the latest open access, peer reviewed journal available on QScience.com, has linked the increase in the use of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in the country without proper safety regulations with rise in accident-related deaths and serious disability.

All-terrain vehicles are fourwheeled motorised means of transport also known as quad bikes, which have become popular as a form of recreational sports in Qatar.

Conducted by Dr Mushrek Alani from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Trauma Surgery Section and a team of doctors, including Dr Ahmad Zarour, Dr Ammar Almadani, Dr Abubaker Al-aieb, Dr Hazim Hamzawi and Dr Kimball I Maull, the study reviews the number of patients injured in ATV crashes in Qatar in order to highlight safety measures that can be implemented to reduce injuries.

The interest in quad bikes has increased rapidly in the recent years.

The study shows that within 10 months, 56 patients sustained serious injury in quad bikes crashes.

Lack of safety awareness about the use of the popular recreational bike has raised the risk of injury associated with accidents in the ATV, the study adds.

During the period of study, three patients died while 19 others were significantly disabled. The report indicates that non use of protective equipment accounted for 88 percent of the injuries.

It identified collisions with fixed objects, another quad bike or other vehicles, and rollovers as the major forms of accidents involving quad bike. The report claims that most of these accidents occur at specified recreational sites, where safety measures could be monitored and enforced.

To curb the quad bike accidents in Qatar, the study recommended the use of safety equipment, including helmets designed and approved for off-road vehicles, and limiting use of the bike to off-road areas.

It also suggested restrictions on registration, age of operators, and the number of passengers carried.

Operated by Hamad Medical Corporation, JEMTAC moved its publishing operations to QScience.com in March.

Managing Director of QScience Arend Küster said, “It is a honour for us to host this journal. We are happy to work with Hamad Medical Corporation on this and other journals.

We hope to bring this important work in emergency medicine to the attention of the international medical community through QScience.com.”