Trauma care facilities being strengthened in govt hospitals near highways: Choubey

New Delhi: Noting that 55 accidents and 17 deaths take place every hour on Indian roads, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said today that trauma care facilities in government-run hospitals near highways were being strengthened to ensure prompt treatment of victims. He said his ministry was also implementing a national programme on trauma care with focus on improving pre-hospital and rehabilitative services for the injured. 

He was speaking after releasing a handbook on prevention of accidents and awareness of first-aid on the occasion of Road Safety Week. “He (Choubey) said that during the year 2016, 4,80,652 road accidents were reported, causing injury to 4,94,624 persons and claiming 1,50,785 lives in the country. 

“He observed that according to this statistics, 1,317 accidents take place in which 413 people die on Indian roads every day, which means 55 accidents and 17 deaths every hour,” according to an official statement. The minister also emphasised the need for giving medical trauma care to the injured during the first hour of the accident, known as the golden hour for saving the lives of the injured persons.

“The Health Ministry is implementing a national programme for trauma care with a focus on improving pre-hospital, hospital and rehabilitative services for injury victims. Trauma care facilities are being strengthened in the existing government hospitals near the state and national highways,” the statement said quoting him.

The government is also taking initiatives to provide training to the doctors, nurses, paramedics and even to the common people on first-aid and management of injuries, he said. He said that till date more than 500 pre-hospital trauma technicians have been trained by Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital and Lady Harding Hospital of the central government alone. 

The Road Safety Week is being observed from April 23 to 30 this year to raise awareness and to encourage citizens to prevent casualties and make roads safer. Choubey stated that a substantial number of accidents and injuries are preventable by following simple ‘Do’s and Don’ts’. He also administered an oath to the officers and staff on road safety.