Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance
Residents in the Canadian Arctic regularly travel in remote, backcountry areas. This can pose risks for injuries and death, and create challenges for emergency responders and health systems. We aimed to describe the extent and characteristics of media-reported backcountry travel emergencies in two N...
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doaj-a42ae7b4e4c24ea1a1f889b1a0897e5d2020-11-24T22:26:52ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012016-03-0113327610.3390/ijerph13030276ijerph13030276Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health SurveillanceStephanie K. Young0Taha B. Tabish1Nathaniel J. Pollock2T. Kue Young3Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, Yellowknife, NT X1A 3X7, CanadaQaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0, CanadaLabrador Institute, Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL A0P 1E0, CanadaSchool of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, CanadaResidents in the Canadian Arctic regularly travel in remote, backcountry areas. This can pose risks for injuries and death, and create challenges for emergency responders and health systems. We aimed to describe the extent and characteristics of media-reported backcountry travel emergencies in two Northern Canadian territories (Nunavut and Northwest Territories). A case-series of all known incidents between 2004 and 2013 was established by identifying events in an online search of two media outlets, Nunatsiaq News and Northern News Services. We identified 121 incidents; these most commonly involved young men, and death occurred in just over 25% of cases. The territories differed in the seasonal patterns. News media provides a partial source of data to estimate the extent and characteristics of backcountry emergencies. This information is needed to improve emergency preparedness and health system responsiveness in the Arctic.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/3/276Canadaarctic regionsIndigenousaboriginalrural healthsearch and rescuetransportation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Stephanie K. Young Taha B. Tabish Nathaniel J. Pollock T. Kue Young |
spellingShingle |
Stephanie K. Young Taha B. Tabish Nathaniel J. Pollock T. Kue Young Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Canada arctic regions Indigenous aboriginal rural health search and rescue transportation |
author_facet |
Stephanie K. Young Taha B. Tabish Nathaniel J. Pollock T. Kue Young |
author_sort |
Stephanie K. Young |
title |
Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance |
title_short |
Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance |
title_full |
Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance |
title_fullStr |
Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance |
title_full_unstemmed |
Backcountry Travel Emergencies in Arctic Canada: A Pilot Study in Public Health Surveillance |
title_sort |
backcountry travel emergencies in arctic canada: a pilot study in public health surveillance |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2016-03-01 |
description |
Residents in the Canadian Arctic regularly travel in remote, backcountry areas. This can pose risks for injuries and death, and create challenges for emergency responders and health systems. We aimed to describe the extent and characteristics of media-reported backcountry travel emergencies in two Northern Canadian territories (Nunavut and Northwest Territories). A case-series of all known incidents between 2004 and 2013 was established by identifying events in an online search of two media outlets, Nunatsiaq News and Northern News Services. We identified 121 incidents; these most commonly involved young men, and death occurred in just over 25% of cases. The territories differed in the seasonal patterns. News media provides a partial source of data to estimate the extent and characteristics of backcountry emergencies. This information is needed to improve emergency preparedness and health system responsiveness in the Arctic. |
topic |
Canada arctic regions Indigenous aboriginal rural health search and rescue transportation |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/3/276 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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