Valuable information shared at World Trauma Day event
LIFE Empangeni Private Hospital celebrated World Trauma Day on Monday, 17 October.
World Trauma Day focuses on saving and protecting a life during the most critical moment of an emergency, preparing and applying critical measures to deal with and avoid trauma fatalities.
In recognition of World Trauma Day, Life Empangeni Private Hospital carried out a live demonstration outside the hospital’s Accident and Emergency unit.
Role players for the day were emergency unit staff, KwaZulu Private Ambulance Services, and Mounties EMS.
They performed a live simulation of a lifethreatening emergency, whereby two occupants were involved in a motor vehicle collision and entrapped inside the vehicle.
Paramedics first ensured the scene was safe before proceeding with life-saving support.
The demonstration included the use of a ‘Kendrick Extrication Device’, ‘Track 3 Traction Splint’ and ‘Kramer wire splint application’.
The demonstration also showed how paramedics load patients into an ambulance, following which the patients were safely off-loaded and handed over to the casualty staff.
Additionally, the hospital also hosted a snake bite workshop by snake handler Peter Daniel.
As temperatures soar in Zululand, snake encounters become more frequent, resulting in more snake bite victims requiring treatment.
Daniel is a big advocate of correct prehospitalisation first aid treatment.
This includes keeping the victim calm and still, removing restrictive clothing and jewellery, transporting the patient on his/her side in case of vomiting, and closely monitoring the patient’s breathing while being transported to hospital.
Snake handler Danie Nel also attended the event, and spoke about the various types of snake venom and how to handle snake bites.
Hospital manager John Fidler said, “World Trauma Day is also about celebrating and recognising our emergency services personnel who work tirelessly, often putting their own safety on the line.
“We thank all emergency personnel for their bravery, dedication and passion in the role they play in saving lives daily.”