A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing confidence we can return to normal activities like travel and vacations we enjoyed before 2020. With the excitement of hitting the open road, there is also reason to pause to ensure we play our part in keeping the roads safer for all this summer. As we venture back out into the world, we’re focusing this month’s theme on trauma in motor vehicle accidents (MVA) as a refresher for all of us to remember how to travel safely.
Stay Alert. Stay Alive.
The American Trauma Society (ATS) and The Society of Trauma Nurses (STI) have collaborated to bring trauma awareness to the public. May is Trauma Awareness Month, which brings an opportunity to share preventative measures of leading causes of MVAs. Each day at least 90 people die in motor vehicle accidents. The significant risk factors in causing fatal MVA accidents are:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving (texting, fiddling with a radio, etc.)
- Driving under the influence
- Not wearing seatbelts
How to Prevent Traumatic Motor Vehicle Accidents
As you travel with your family and friends this summer, these are some ways you can decrease your chance of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle-related accident:
- Ensure the driver of the car is well-rested, without distractions, and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Everyone in the vehicle should be properly secured with a seat belt or age-appropriate car seat
- Ensure the driver adheres to speed limits and adjusts their speed to weather and road conditions
What to Do if You Witness or You’re in a Motor Vehicle Accident
If you are in or witness an accident, please call 911 immediately. Minutes matter, and getting the patient into the healthcare system will help to decrease disability and mortality of trauma patients. Whether you are driving in rural or urban areas, many EMS and hospital emergency rooms have trauma protocols in place to give you the best care available. The protocols assist with getting the injured patients stabilized and to the right level of care the first time.
Every minute counts. Mission Control is here to assist the emergency rooms in locating the appropriate resources, available specialists, EMS agencies, and any other necessary means required to transfer the patient so that the healthcare team can focus on caring for the needs of the patient.
Obviously, not all traumas occur on the roads. Read more by clicking the link below for other resources provided by the ATS and STI. Want to learn more about trauma reporting and Mission Control? Contact us to request a demo.
From everyone at Mission Control, we wish you a fun — and SAFE — summer!
Sources and Resources
Check out the ATV Safety Institute’s Readiness Checklist to see if your child is ready to drive an ATV. https://atvsafety.org/are-they-ready/
Fascinating facts about workplace injuries here https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/
Dog bites pose a serious health risk, with more than 4.5 million people being bitten by dogs each year in the U.S. At least half of those bitten are children. Here are resources on ways to prevent a dog bite: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention
Whether it’s a trip to the beach or a dip in the community or backyard pool, these swimming safety tips can help you have fun in the sun. https://www.safekids.org/poolsafety
American Trauma Society https://www.amtrauma.org/page/NTAM2021SC
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/motor-vehicle-safety/index.html
Kansas Department of Health and Environment http://www.kstrauma.org/
