Trauma Alert: A traumatic injury can happen to anyone, at any time. But who is most at risk—and how can these injuries be prevented? In recognition of May as Trauma Awareness Month, Liliana Delgado, MSN, RN, Trauma Program Director at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, shared key insights to help you better understand the risks and protect yourself and your loved ones.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is any physical injury caused by an external force on the body. The three types of trauma include: blunt, which is an injury caused by a forceful impact such as a fall, or an attack with a dull object or surface, like a bat; penetrating, when an object pierces the skin and enters the body; or burns from cooking, hot oil or water, electrocution, or explosions, like fireworks.

Risk and treatment

Anyone can be affected by trauma, but the greatest risk is seen among our most vulnerable populations: children and older adults. While these groups differ by age and stage of life, they share a common leading cause of traumatic injuries: Falls.

“Falls account for 29% of injuries in children ages 0 to 17, and 82% in adults 65 and older,” said Ms. Delgado. “Children are at higher risk due to developmental stage and exposure to injury-prone activities, while older adults face increased risk from falls, frailty, and underlying medical conditions.”

Rounding out the top three types of traumatic injuries hospitals treat are Motor Vehicle Collison (MVC) at 57%, and bike/scooter accidents at 10%.

When treating a traumatic injury, all severe cases get trauma activation in the Emergency Department which includes a trauma workup.  A patient will get multiple x-rays and a CAT scans, identify internal damage resulting from the impact. This damage can be broken bones, injured organs, or ruptured vessels. There will also be a trauma evaluation by the trauma surgeon to ensure there are no missed injuries, following the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines.  This is a systematic approach to assessment of an injured patient.

Stay focused, stay safe

The best way to prevent a traumatic injury is simple: stay focused, as environmental awareness is key. The following are safety tips Ms. Delgado advised on how to avoid the top three traumatic injuries:

Falls:

For our elders:

• Keep spaces uncluttered
• Make sure walkways are well lit
• Use anti-slip area rugs
• Wear well-fitting shoes with rubber soles
• Use assistive devices if needed
• Minimize carrying too many objects when walking
• Wear hearing aids or glasses if needed
• Review medication list with healthcare providers regularly
• Stay hydrated
• Stay active
• Get up slowly from seated or laying position

For infants and children:

• Monitor their environments to ensure it’s safe
• Use stair gates
• Remove climbing hazards near windows
• Keep babies in low buckled seats
• Supervision – do not leave children un attended

Motor Vehicle Collision:

• Obey speed limits
• Eliminate distractions
• Use seatbelts
• Avoid driving drowsy
• Drive sober
• Share the road: be mindful of motorcyclists, bicycles and pedestrians.

Bicycle and Scooter:

• Always wearing a well-fitted helmet (CPSC approved)
• Wear reflectors to increase your visibility
• Follow traffic laws
• Use bike lanes
• Maintain speed under 15 mph

To learn more, visit www.montefiorenyack.org/services/trauma-center.