Rush accident victims to hospitals without delay: Experts

PATNA: The harsh reality of modern life running on fast wheels, mostly in urban areas, could well be revealed by figures shared by prominent hospitals of the state capital. Of the total 531 road accident
victims brought to All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Patna (AIIMS-P) in July, 234 needed hospitalisation, 156 underwent surgery but eight were declared brought dead.
“While many recover at local hospitals, serious ones are referred to big hospitals for better care,” said AIIMS-P executive director Dr G K Pal. He, however, ascribed the reasons behind rise in such
cases to phenomenal increase in the number of high-speed vehicles and non-compliance of traffic rules. “Delay in rushing profusely bleeding victims to nearest hospitals only adds to the number of
casualties,” Dr Pal added.
Head of AIIMS-P trauma department, Dr Anil Kumar, said of the 3,600 accident victims who reach the hospital annually, 80% cases involve two-wheelers.
“Of the total accident victims who reach the AIIMS-P, at least 60% hail from Patna and the rest from other districts. Recently, AIIMS-P organised a training programme for DSPs on how to tackle road
accident victims,” he added.
Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), a superspecialty hospital, receives 85 cases of road traffic accidents on an average in a month, medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Manish
Mandal, said. “Bike accident victims account for nearly 80% of such cases. Those who receive multiple injuries, such as head, maxillofacial and spinal region, need immediate hospitalization,” he added.
Dr Subhash Chandra of Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital said nearly 85% of accident cases are related to crashing against road dividers, skidding off the road or dashing another vehicle
while overtaking or stunting. “The nature of injuries varies from polytrauma, head or spine injuries, limb fractures to profuse internal and external bleeding,” he added. Emergence of high-speed vehicles, violation of traffic rules and lack of basic life-saving training for first responders are to blame for such situations, Dr Chandra said.
Nalanda Medical College and Hospital also receive 70 road accident victims per month, hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Rajiv Ranjan said. As the majority of incidents involve two-wheelers, the victims suffer multiple injuries.