1. Mapping Motor Vehicle Crashes in Hawaii:
GIS applications for injury prevention
Dan Galanis
EMS & Injury Prevention System Branch
Hawaii Department of Health

2. Overview of presentation
 Overview of injuries
 Importance of GIS for prevention of
motor vehicle crashes and drownings
 GIS applications in prevention of injuries from
motor vehicle crashes
 North Hawaii Outcomes Project
• Mapping of fatal crashes on Big Island
 Hawaii Emergency Medical Services Information
System (HEMSIS)
• Mapping of all motor vehicle crashes on Oahu
 Drownings in the state

3. Injuries…
…are the 4th leading cause of death in Hawaii (>700 per year)
…the leading cause of death for ages 1 to 40;
more than all other diseases combined
…cause ~14% of all hospitalizations in Hawaii
…cause ~88,000 emergency department visits a year
…account for 33% of EMS emergency calls
…~35,000 calls per year
…ARE PREVENTABLE

8. Causes of fatal injuries in Hawaii, 2006-2010
suicide 155
falls seniors: 84 (12%) 108 (15%) (21%)
poisoning 90 (12%)
mvc*-occupant 73 (10%)
drowning 64 (9%)
suffocation 32 (4%)
mvc*-motorcyclist 31 (4%)
mvc*-pedestrian 29 (4%)
assault 25 (4%)
other-transport 6 (1%)
mvc*-bicyclist 4 (1%)
fire/burn 4 (1%)
natural/environmental 2 (0%)
machinery 2 (0%)
undetermined intent 66 (9%)
injury-other 33 (4%)
0 50 100 150
annual number (% of total)

9. Leading Causes of Injury Mortality and Morbidity
among Hawaii residents, 2006-2010
Fatal injuries Hospitalizations EMS calls
1 Suicide 155 21% Falls 2,674 49% Falls 10,112 35%
2 Falls 108 15% Car occupant 471 9% Car occupant 5,332 18%
3 Poisoning 90 12% Suicide 378 7% Assault 3,440 12%
attempt
4 Car occupant 73 10% Assault 302 6% Poisoning 2,073 7%
5 Drowning 64 9% Motorcyclist 277 5% Struck by 1,201 4%
object

10. Mapping of fatal crashes on the Big Island

11. North Hawaii Outcomes Project
 Started efforts at motor vehicle crash reduction
in 2001, given high fatality rates in Hawaii
County
• 1st step was to identify locations of fatal crashes
• Later published poster-sized maps, distributed to:
 All middle and high schools, police stations, health facilites, etc.
 Highlighting prevalence of drunk driving
• Also shared with media to increase awareness
• Web site: www.nhop.org

12. Fatality maps in Big Island media

13. Fatality maps in NHOP publications and strategic plans

14. Mapping of EMS-attended crashes on Oahu

15. HEMSIS data (EMS reports)
 Advantages: Real time, detail on mode (car occupant vs.
motocyclist vs. pedestrian, etc.), protective factors (seat belts,
helments), substance use, and street address/site of crash
 Problem is data entry/errors vs. geocoding:
• "H1 WEST EAST OF LUNALILO OFF"
• "swanzy beach park"
• "91-1000 GEIGER RD."
• "Frntg Waianae McDonalds 85-726 farrington hwy"
• "879 Honalua St Hobo, HI 96826"
 Solution was to obtain 911 dispatch data from City & County
• CAD interface captures 911 caller's latitude and longitude
• Re-merge with larger EMS database