Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

8-2023

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

First Committee Member

Ellen Duysen

Second Committee Member

Elizabeth Lyden

Third Committee Member

Aaron Yoder

Abstract

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) rollovers, tractor rollovers, and machinery entanglements cause traumatic injuries to agricultural workers. Response time of first responders combined with travel to trauma units can take a significant amount of time in rural areas, potentially leading to an increased risk of fatal outcomes for those involved in these incidents. The aim of this study is to determine if distance to a level I trauma unit is a factor in the outcomes of these incidents. ATV rollovers, tractor rollovers, and machinery entanglement injuries and fatalities, collected from a 7-state Midwestern region were entered into a GIS system along with locations of level 1 trauma units. Distance from trauma units was compared between victim outcomes (fatality versus injury), as it was hypothesized that increased distance to trauma unit is associated with poorer outcomes. Results demonstrated no statistically significant difference in distance to trauma units between injury incidents versus fatalities. When comparing outcomes between demographic variables, the data demonstrated a significant association with age (p=0.006). The median age for those who were injured was lower at 46.0 years compared to 58.0 years in those who died. Strategies to engage and accommodate aging agricultural workers should be researched and implemented.

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