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Initial Handling and Care to Reduce
Mortality Stressed
Trauma is one of
the leading causes of death and disability not only in Pakistan,
but also across the globe. Trauma cases are probably more amenable
to treatment than cancer, stroke and some heart diseases, if managed
appropriately. In South Asia, trauma related mortality is on the
rise and according to WHO, will be the leading cause of productive
life loss for both developed nations and developing nations by 2020.
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| Aga
Khan University Hospital organized a three-day intensive trauma
course that began on May 20, 2004. |
Appropriate management of trauma
victims in the early hours can significantly reduce the associated
deaths and disabilities. In order to achieve this, it is important
that doctors and paramedical staff, who are involved in the management
of trauma patients should be well trained in the initial handling
and care.
One of the objectives of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
is to provide continuous education to health care providers so that
they are trained to respond to the unique needs of patients. Therefore,
the Hospital organized a three-day intensive trauma course that
began on May
20, 2004. The course has been developed in response to
a need to identify a safe, consistent, standardized, and effective
way to initially evaluate and resuscitate patients with multiple
injuries. The course provides an easily remembered method for evaluating
and treating victims of a traumatic event.
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| The
trauma course has been developed to identify a safe, consistent,
standardized, and effective way to initially evaluate and resuscitate
patients with multiple injuries. It provides an easily remembered
method for evaluating and treating victims of a traumatic event. |
“A key preparedness factor in the care of many injured
people is a well-functioning trauma system. There should be a "Trauma
System Agenda for the Future" to help the communities be better
prepared for the worst, said Dr. Rifat Rehmani, Head of Emergency
Medicine Section of AKUH. He added that even without disasters,
traumatic injury remains a significant health problem. “Unintentional
injury is the leading cause of death for people between the ages
of 1 and 34 years.There are at least 20,000 reported deaths from
road traffic injuries in Pakistan.
The most common fatal injuries in the country result from motor
vehicle crashes, followed by gunshot wounds, added Dr. Rehmani.
The inaugural session included
a live skit, which highlighted the current state of management of trauma patients
in the country that needs to be changed.
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