Patients admitted to emergency units with injuries related to the four Hajj-associated annual animal sacrifice feasts from 2010 to 2013

BACKGROUND: During the Eid al-Adha (“Sacrifice Feast”) religious holiday in Muslim communities animal sacrifices are made over a period of 3 days every year. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the type of sacrifice-related injuries, the characteristics of patients, treatments for injuries, and relationships between these factors to determine precautions that could be taken to avoid or mitigate sacrifice-related injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective study of medical records. SETTING: Emergency units at two hospitals from 2010 to 2013. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients admitted for treatment for injuries associated with sacrificial cutting during the four annual sacrifice feasts were classified as professional butchers, apprentice butchers, and third persons who were neither professional butchers nor apprentices. MAIN OUTOME MEASRE(S): Injuries associated with animal sacrifice. RESULTS: Of 592 patients, 22 (3.7%) were professional butchers, 149 (25.2%) apprentice butchers, and 421 (71.1%) third persons. Significant relationships were found between the profession of the injured person and the injury and subsequent treatment (P<.05). CONCLUSION: To prevent and minimize the injuries associated with sacrificial cutting, there should be an area designated for sacrificing animals. Moreover, sacrifices should be performed by professionals in possession of a sacrificial cutting certificate. If owners of sacrificial animals insist on slaughtering animals, they should be trained by professional butchers who have a teaching certificate. To deal with an increasing number of such injuries during the sacrifice feast, hospital emergency units need to be adequately resourced with adequate equipment and staff. LIMITATIONS: Regional and local data could not be assessed completely. Patients who presented on the 4th day were not included in the study.