Covenant Health System Recognizes Trauma Awareness Month

Injuries are the leading cause of death for children and adults age one to 44. Treatment at a trauma center for severe injuries can lower one’s risk of death by 25 percent. Covenant has two designated Level II trauma centers to help aid those seriously injured. Covenant Health’s Pediatric Trauma Coordinator Amy Campbell raises awareness of trauma this May by discussing traumas and the importance of trauma centers in saving lives.

• Trauma Awareness Month, established by President Ronald Regan in 1988, is a time to provide injury prevention messages to the public and to publicize trauma center locations.
• The Trauma Service Department at Covenant continuously promotes trauma awareness throughout the year through various injury prevention events within the community and region.
• Young children and the elderly have the highest percentages of trauma related injuries. However, trauma is the number five cause of death overall across all age groups.
• In 2010, Covenant Children’s Hospital saw 589 children requiring hospital admission due to trauma.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumas in children followed by car crashes, car vs. pedestrian crashes, bicycle injuries and child abuse.
• Symptoms are specific to the type of trauma injury sustained:
• Head injuries – headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, amnesia, seizures, irritability or lethargy.
• Chest injuries – chest pains, bruising of the chest or difficulty breathing.
• Abdominal injuries – abdominal pain, vomiting, bruising of the abdomen, difficulty breathing or increased abdominal size.
• Covenant has a systematic approach in treating trauma patients. Life-threatening injuries are addressed first, followed by other specific treatments dependent on the type of injuries sustained.
• There can be life-long effects from a serious trauma injury, especially head injuries. Life-long problems can include:
• Seizures
• Inability to breathe, eat, move, etc. without assistance
• Learning problems
• Blindness
• Vegetative state or coma
• Most injuries can be prevented or significantly decreased by following simple safety rules such as wearing a seatbelt and making sure children are restrained in appropriate devices while in the car, and wearing helmets while riding bicycles, skating, skateboarding, ATVs or motorcycles. Also, the public should understand the dangers of shaking babies and other forms of abuse that can cause serious trauma or be detrimental to one’s health.
• Some general safety tips to help prevent a severe trauma are as follows:
• Make auto safety a priority.
• Keep a well-stocked First Aid Kit at home and in the car.
• Keep fire extinguishers in the house.
• Have cell phones and chargers handy in case of an emergency.
• Know where the closest trauma center is located.