Vibration risks during pediatric transport : a comparison of the ambulance and the helicopter

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[SUMMARY]Transportation, whether by ground or air, exposes patients and health care providers to mechanical shocks, vibrations, and loud noises. The potential dangers posed by these forces remain largely unknown. We investigated the three dimensional vibration / acceleration forces during pediatric transportation in an ambulance and helicopter. The vibration / acceleration forces were almost 1 m/s2 during transport by helicopter including both takeoff and landing. However, transport by ambulance showed remarkable omnidirectional vibration often up to 2 m/s2 and sometimes reaching 3-4 m/s2. Further evaluation of vibrational stress and means of attenuating vibration during pediatric transportation are needed to enhance patient safety.