Each year hundreds of thousands of people descend on the Gold Coast for major events. Exposure to heat and humidity at these events is underestimated, resulting in a spike in preventable hospital presentations and consequences of heat-related illness. Australia currently lacks a clear, data-driven approach to managing heat risk at mass-gathering sporting events. We plan to bring together the public health unit, emergency departments, major events, and local universities in a coordinated collaboration. The goal is simple - generate the evidence for smarter resourcing that safeguards our health system and empowers our communities to act early on heat illness, ensuring positive experiences at major sporting events on the Gold Coast. The health positive benefits are immediate and long-term: fewer preventable hospitalisations, safer events, reduced pressure on emergency services, and avoiding the human and financial costs of getting it wrong.

Currently in Australia, children with suspected neck injuries undergo neck scans such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However these scans may carry risks from radiation exposure, and are often associated with discomfort and distress for young patients and the need for sedation.

Considerable emergency department time and costs are also associated with these scans and it is unclear when it can be safely avoided. Rules and tools can help doctors decide when scans are necessary. The SONIC study aims to look at whether existing rules for adults are also appropriate for use in children, and to develop and test a specific tool to help doctors decide which children need a neck x-ray or scan. The study will involve a large number of children across multiple hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. The research is expected to help researchers learn more about looking after children with neck injuries and hopefully allow us to safely limit the number of scans that need to be done.

The SONIC study is also supported by the Commonwealth of Australia through a MRFF Grant ID1199748 administered by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.