Trauma – The Sensitive and Emergency Care.

What happens if someone walking along ITPL road near Kadugodi Tree Park, early in the morning is severely hit by a passing vehicle? Our immediate response is to call for an Ambulance.  With the Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Whitefield, the trauma experienced by the victim could be addressed immediately. Every minute matters during such an emergency. These kinds of incidents happen frequently around us. According to the National Health Portal of India, more than 1.3 lakh people die due to road accidents every year. Rapid urbanization, motorization, lack of appropriate road engineering, and even poor awareness levels result in accidents. That’s why we need Trauma care.

Now, what is this trauma care? What is the difference between trauma care and a hospital? Can every doctor treat a trauma patient? A multitude of questions pops up in our minds. Let us first know about trauma. Trauma is a Greek word that refers to a severe injury. Trauma care is lifesaving assistance and treatment. Physical injuries happen due to accidents, violence, careless falls, sports injuries, and the list goes on. Now and then incidents like gunshots, fire accidents, etc add to the need for emergency care. In such a critical situation, quick and effective trauma care is needed with all the top facilities.

Trauma: The sensitive and emergency care.

Traumatology sorts the trauma into 3 groups based on the state of affairs.

• Acute trauma: The result of a single stressful event or a dangerous situation.
• Chronic trauma: Repeated and prolonged exposure to a highly stressful situation causes this kind of trauma.  
• Complex trauma: Exposure to multiple traumatic events leads to a complex trauma condition.

On this basis, the nature and requirements of treatment vary.  The specialist observes the nature of the injury before starting the treatment. In general, the impact of the mechanical force causes a lot of tissue damage which needs primary attention. The injuries which are exposed to external agents and chemicals become a real challenge to both the doctor and the patient.

Trauma Care Hospital: A lifesaver.

Generally, trauma care centers are recognized through the levels.  There are 5 levels based on the facilities and services that they provide. Level 1 is considered the topmost and level 5 is the basic.

Level 1:

The premium level of trauma care includes pretty much everything that is the best for trauma treatment. Trauma clinics can reduce 25% of the mortality rate with cutting-edge technology and 24/7 service. The surgical and diagnostic equipment of level 1 hospitals are sophisticated and this futuristic technology is a boon for critical trauma patients. Level 1 trauma care providers are highly experienced nurses, emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists, and surgeons who are experts in various specialties like cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, emergency medicine, rehabilitation service, etc. Level 1 trauma care center works to spread awareness through education programs or preventive and outreach programs as they are mostly medical institutions, research program centers, or referral resources.  

Level 2:

The trauma care units under level 2, collaborate with the premium trauma centers due to their lack of advanced critical care facilities. They provide comprehensive trauma care with 24/7 essential specialists and necessary equipment. These centers are not equipped to conduct research programs or surgical residency programs.

Other levels:

 As we move towards other levels, the quality of services and facilities also decreases. Level 3 is deficient in specialists but has emergency resources like

primary surgical care, resuscitation, and intensive care. Level 4 is capable of providing initial evacuation, stabilization, and diagnosis. Trauma-trained nurses and physicians may be available upon the patient’s request in levels 3 and 4. These critical care units have the potential to transfer patients to higher levels. Level 5 can only stabilize the patient and shift the patient to better-equipped critical care units and such levels are mostly the trauma rehabilitation centers. During the recent landslides and floods in Karnataka and Kerala, the destruction resulted in heavy causalities needing primary attention. In such critical situations, level 5 trauma centers work as rehabilitation units to stabilize and evacuate the victims to the premium critical care units.    

Pediatric trauma center:

Can an adult trauma center treat a child efficiently? Do they require any specialization? These are the questions that bother every parent when their child undergoes a traumatic situation. Pediatric trauma centers are specially equipped to treat children and such healthcare givers are particularly trained to handle children in any critical situation. Usually, level 1 trauma care centers are capable of managing both adults as well as children.

Dear reader, pay attention.

What will you do when you witness a trauma situation like an accident? Will you rush to help them? If yes, then you should know what to do and what not to do to save the injured person. The accident is a critical situation… that wound and blood… people screaming in pain… anguish environment… will make us panic. The foremost step to rescuing someone is to stay calm and call the emergency helpline number. The injured person may ask for water but never give him. In such situations, this small NO can save his life. We drink water in the swallowing mechanism, and the epiglottis works as the common gate to the oesophagus and trachea. The person in a semi-conscious condition will be unable to swallow it, and that water you feed enters the lungs, which causes immediate death. Sprinkling water on the face and twisting and turning the body parts will fuel the fire and causes more damage. Then?? Should we stand quietly watching the injured? According to the doctors, you shouldn’t. Instead of that, turn the injured person to either of the sides. This helps him breathe easily and prevents blood from entering the lungs from the mouth. If possible, wipe or gently clean the blood oozing out from the mouth. Press the bleeding wound with a cloth or hand so that you can save their life from blood loss. Such simple actions in a critical situation serve to rescue a valuable life.  

Every minute matters in times of emergency.

When a lead character in a movie is admitted to the hospital in critical condition, the doctor dramatically says “ I am sorry, if you would have brought him a little earlier, we would have saved him.” As mere viewers, we feel a sense of regret. In real life, though there is no second chance. Every minute matters critically to save a patient. Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (VIMS&RC) aims to save such patients within the Golden Hour. VIMS located in the prime place of the city provides a high-tech ambulance service, and they have collaborated with nearby healthcare units so that a critical trauma patient can be easily and quickly transferred to the hospital. Highly qualified consultants and expert surgeons with simulation training from VASA provide the best treatment. The healthcare providers of VIMS&RC are trained for counseling critical patients and this moral support helps in better responses from the patients and their families.  VIMS&RC consists of the global standard healthcare facilities, trauma management equipment, and technology to save a life in traumatic conditions. In a critical situation, don’t panic but think of Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, dial the emergency number +91-80-4125 9032 Because every life is precious.

Disclaimer: The information included here is only for knowledge-sharing purposes, and the blog is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment by a healthcare professional. Every individual needs advice based on diagnosis and evidence, hence the reader should consult their doctor to determine the disease and any treatment must be taken under appropriate medical guidance.