Verification of a life-saving model using WA-MO (community bus) in an aging and depopulated area

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19257
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58080:Gerontological nursing and community health nursing-related
• Research Institution: Hokuriku University
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Junko 北陸大学, 医療保健学部, 教授 (60636596)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 一次救命処置 / 高齢過疎地域 / AED / コミュニティバス / 自治体 / コミュニティ / 高齢化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Wajima City has an aging population of 45% and is designated as a depopulated area. The entire area of Wajima City is a single emergency transport zone, with only one designated emergency hospital, and the number of physicians is decreasing and departments are closing. This study aims to verify whether the establishment of an emergency communication network can contribute to primary lifesaving by providing early coordination with medical institutions by installing an AED and related equipment on WA-MO, a small electric cart that circulates in Wajima City, as a measure to prevent the extension of emergency operation time and the resulting decrease in the lifesaving rate. By constantly circulating AEDs, a new style of AED use will be created that does not depend on where they are installed, improving the lifesaving rate of citizens and creating a model for application in times of disaster and for lifesaving systems in depopulated and aging areas nationwide.

Free Research Field

高齢者看護学および地域看護学関連

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢過疎地域における高齢者市民に対して救命活動に関する意識と技術の向上を図り、設置場所が不明なAEDを市民が日常的に利用するコミュニティバス内に搭載した。バスの運転手を含め乗車した者や路上で傷病者を発見しバスを停車した者が救命措置を実施し、その管理に自治体、バス会社、医療機器メーカが関与することで、誰もが助け合う街づくりとして全国の高齢過疎地域における救命モデルとして活用されることが示唆された。