Bystander Trauma Care Program | IOWA |
---|
|
Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death in the first four decades of
life. In 1994, Iowa's motor vehicle crashes represented 46 percent (518) of
deaths by unintentional traumatic injury. Long EMS response times to emergencies
in rural areas are common. Additionally, untrained and ill-equipped bystanders
are often the first responders to crash sites where airway management and bleeding
control are critical to the survival of injured persons.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the program is to improve access to care for victims of traumatic injury, thereby reducing disability and death from motor vehicle crashes and other causes of trauma by:
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines was selected to extend the piloted
effort into the 17-county South Central Iowa EMS Region while implementing the
following:
RESULTS
During the project period, 120 EMS personnel were trained as bystander care
instructors. They subsequently trained more than 2,000 laypersons from
communities within the Central Iowa EMS Region.
A preliminary analysis of the program involved questioning 369 individuals
before and immediately after training. This analysis indicated that participants
now would be more likely to stop and provide assistance, would be better able to
perform correct sequential interventions, and would be better able to provide
complete and accurate information when calling 911. Although further follow-up
studies are needed, early results indicate that the program provides excellent
preparation for layperson bystanders that arrive at the scene of traumatic injury.
This bodes well for individuals traveling throughout this largely rural state.