In the event of an accident, only one in two French people calls emergency services as a priority according to a new Ifop survey, commissioned by the Maaf.
How many French people know that if they dial the number 15 on their telephone keypad, they will come across the Samu? Surely all of them. However, only half of them call emergency medical services as a priority in the event of an accident, according to a new Ifop survey commissioned by the mutual insurance company Maaf.
Burns and violent trauma
Carried out in October on a sample of 1,003 French people, the survey reveals that 56% of French people say they have recourse to emergency medical services while the others prefer to call their doctor (19%) or drive their loved ones or themselves directly. in emergencies (13%). The most frequent cases of calls to the Samu concern cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), loss of consciousness or even a violent pain in the chest for more than 20 minutes (precursor signs of a heart attack). Burns or violent trauma also represent a large proportion of the cases recorded (53%).
On the other hand, only 23% of French people call the SAMU when a young child has a fever above 39 degrees for 24 hours. The survey was also interested in the knowledge that the French have of emergencies and their missions. The latter cited as a priority the intervention of a resuscitation team (79%), the management of emergencies outside the hospital (57%) the coordination of medical rescue interventions (51%). But they are only 24% to evoke medical advice.
In which cases should you call the Samu?
The results of the survey correspond rather well to emergency situations for which the call to the Samu remains an absolute priority. This is particularly the case with strokes and infarcts. In general, first-line emergency medical services are recommended in the event of a vital emergency (road accidents, stroke, heart attacks, malaise, etc.) And with regard to fever above 39 degrees in young children, it is first recommended to give a medicine or to contact the attending physician as a first-line treatment. However, if the drug does not bring down the fever after 60 to 90 minutes, it is better to take the child to the emergency room.
However, the French do not always dial 15 at the right time. A report by the Court of Auditors published last September drew up an inventory: each year, no less than 3.6 million emergency visits are not justified, which represents one pointless appeal in five. And a potential source of savings of around 500 million euros.
.
