Bangalore's first hospital network 'Comprehensive Trauma Consortium' [CTC], for accident cases launched the country's first trauma website here. The site called www.roadaccidents.com will include details on CTC, the hospitals involved, patient education and a trauma registry and information on whom, it benefits. The site was introduced to bring down the number of accident cases in the city.
A training manual for paramedics involved in helping out trauma victims was released. The paramedics will assist and direct in extrication of victims and ensure safe transportation. At present CTC is offering free paramedic training to police and hospital emergency staff. These manuals can serve as a ready reckoner for any one to act as a Good Samaritan, said Dr. N K Venkataraman, project coordinator, CTC.
These manuals will be provided in all police vehicles called 'Hoysala' in Bangalore. An advanced trauma care for doctors was also released which provides information about all injuries.
CTC was started in March 2000 for an organised trauma care delivery system in Bangalore. It has trained 400 policemen on first aid, in case medical help is delayed and introduced the concept of zonal hospitals by dividing Bangalore into seven zones. Its network of zonal hospitals are Manipal, St. John's, NIMHANS, Bangalore Hospital, Mallige, Mallya, MS Ramaiah and HOSMAT. It has also tied up with the city's 12 other area hospitals- Rajashekar hospital, Baptist hospital, St. Marthas, Manipal Northside, public sector undertaking hospitals -HAL, ITI and HMT; Panacea Hospital, Srinivasa Nursing Home, Sanjay Gandhi Accident Relief Hospital, and Abhaya Hospital. All these hospitals are connected with wireless system and designated ambulances equipped with potable first aid kit, spinal board [that can act a stretcher] and other items. In addition, trauma care is extended to help on highways where accidents occur the most. The highway hospitals have been enrolled as satellite hospitals.
CTC has also introduced a medical insurance scheme 'Suraksha' at Rs 300 premium a year. Those enrolled get a medical insurance of Rs 1 lakh for expenses after an injury. They also get Rs 1 lakh if there is a death or an injury. The scheme is available for children below 15 years at Rs 150 a year.
In addition CTC has collaborated with Deccan Aviation, Rotary Club Indian Oil Corporation and high way users clubs to extend trauma care facilities to highways connecting Bangalore.
CTC has associated with the Bangalore police control room and has introduced a toll free access telephone number 103, which has been designated to report accident cases.
According to the Bangalore Neurological Society [BNS], the city has one among the highest accidents reports in a year. At least 14,000 accidents have been reported in Bangalore last year. But, the traffic police claim the figure to be 8,000. The BNS officials stated that for every accident at least five go unreported.
Of the patients admitted to the emergency care facilities in Bangalore, 50 per cent are a direct result of road accidents. Most of these are aged between 20 and 35 years. Statistically, 34 per cent of all these cases are head injuries, 37 per cent facial injuries, 38 per cent leg injuries and three percent spinal injuries. According to Dr. Venkataramana, the neuro trauma cases constitute 71 per cent of injured list.