A survey of emergency medical care at Uluru (Ayers Rock).

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the emergency practice profile of the Ayers Rock population and the health risk of tourist activities. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective survey of all patients presenting to the medical staff at Ayers Rock Medical Centre between 1 July 1991 and 31 December 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A serious incident was defined as an incident that was life threatening or required more than 1.5 hours of emergency medical attention. RESULTS: There were 255 serious incidents, 40 of which were immediately life threatening and six of which resulted in death. Most serious incidents were not associated with climbing Uluru, but nine of 13 myocardial infarcts occurred on the Rock, all involving tourists (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Living in or visiting the Ayers Rock area is associated with an increased health risk and the Uluru climb is associated with a high incidence of myocardial infarction. The emergency practice workload is higher than at other comparable rural facilities.