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This is an old, morbid joke, especially common in hospital emergency rooms. What do you call the person on the motorbike who passes you at breakneck speed on the highway? An organ donor.
Of course it's not funny. But that sad, dark humor may contain a kernel of truth, according to one study. JAMA Internal Medicine This suggests that large motorcycle rallies slightly increase organ donations.
Why did researchers want to study this?
strong evidence shows that Motorcycles are more risky It is more dangerous than other forms of transportation, especially if the driver is driving recklessly, not wearing a helmet, or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
But over the past 20 years, the number of motorcycles registered in the U.S. Doubled from 4.3 million to 8.6 million. Bike rallies are also popular, with more than 500,000 people attending the world's largest bike rally in Sturgis, South Dakota in 2022. And in fact, this is about 200,000 fewer participants than in recent years.
Researchers say that having so many bikers congregating in one place could lead to an increase in fatal accidents, which could temporarily increase organ donation rates. I thought about it.
Their study cast a wider net than the Sturgis rally. Researchers focused on the towns and cities that hosted large-scale motorcycle rallies in the United States from 2005 to 2021. Fatal car accidents that led to organ donation or organ transplantation. They then compared that number to rates in those locations four weeks before and after the gathering. They also looked at interest rates in areas of the country where rallies did not occur.
What did the study find?
On average, one organ donor can donate three to four organs for transplant, such as a kidney, liver, or heart. That's why choosing to become an organ donor can change so many lives.
Researchers analyzed approximately 11,000 organ donations resulting from car accidents following seven major motorcycle rallies and found that:
- Most organ donors were young (mean age 32 years) and men (71%).
- On average, each motorcycle rally day had 21% more organ donors and 26% more recipients compared to the same area on non-rally days or in neighboring areas where no rally was held. While this sounds like a lot of money, it's the equivalent of one additional person's donation to two major motorcycle rallies.
- Donor deaths from causes other than motor vehicle accidents did not increase during the rally period.
The findings raise new questions
The study suggests that on days when large motorcycle rallies are held, there are more accidents and more organ donations. But there's a lot we haven't learned that could make us look at the research results in a different light. for example:
- Did the fatal accidents occur primarily on highways, minor roads, or off-road?
- Was there any connection between the fatal accident and the motorcycle or a particular vehicle, such as the motorcycle alone, or the motorcycle and the passenger in the truck?
- What impact do motorcycle rallies have on injury and mortality rates? This study only looked at deaths after car accidents that led to organ donation, so it may underestimate the overall impact. may be. Accidents that did not result in death or fatalities that did not result in organ donation were not included.
- Are the number of fatal accidents during motorcycle rallies higher than expected given the dramatic increase in crowds and traffic?
The answers to these questions could guide rally organizers to improve the safety of these events.
conclusion
In my view, this remarkable study has several take-home messages.
First, motorcycle gatherings are associated with an increase in motor vehicle fatalities. Recognizing this, rally organizers, local leaders, and medical professionals must take action to improve safety and prepare for an increase in crash-related injuries. At a minimum, rally participants should be encouraged to wear helmets and refrain from driving recklessly or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Additionally, this study suggests that motorcycle rally organizers should incorporate organ donor registration programs into these events. Doing so could increase the number of organs available to people in need of organ transplants at a time when there is a significant organ shortage. It may even encourage people to ride more safely.
