How to deal with trauma cases within the ‘golden hour’?

Gangtok: Trauma is the number one cause of death in individuals between the age of 20 and 60. Economic development has resulted in more and more car accidents which are now the most frequent cause of trauma. Other causes of trauma include falls, earthquakes, and violence. Emergency departments now face a great challenge with such increases in the incidence and severity of trauma patients.

The lack of a high-quality nationwide database for trauma makes an accurate estimate of trauma epidemiology difficult. Recently introduced programs like iRAD (Integrated Road accidents Database) would help to get valuable reports on trauma-epidemiological data. Mass casualty events produce stress and challenge to every medical care system in every country.

The first 60 minutes following trauma are a crucial period for getting patients to a trauma centre and has been called the “golden hour”. This concept is deeply entrenched in trauma systems, field triage guidelines, emergency medical services, and emergency department management of trauma victims. Triaging is a vital part of managing multiple casualties and mass casualty events. A process by which patients are classified according to the type and urgency of their conditions.