Karachi hospitals receive over 33,000 traffic crash patients in a year: health experts

KARACHI: Over 33,000 people, including children and women, were brought to the metropolis' public hospitals in an emergency due to head injuries from traffic accidents annually, health experts said at an event on Sunday.

Speaking at a seminar on research and update in neuroscience in Karachi, the country's leading neurosurgeons also noted that the establishment of neurotrauma centres was essential to save lives, where the first hour was considered to be of paramount importance.

One of them, Dr Raza Ali Khairat, said 82 percent of these 33,000 people suffered head injuries because they did not wear helmets while driving bikes. Road accidents caused 700 people to die on the spot.

Dr Shams Raza Birohi, another neurosurgeon, said the first hour after a traffic accident was called the 'Golden Hour,' wherein chances to save lives in the event of a head injury were higher.

However, it was important for the patient to arrive at the hospital on time.

Of the total deaths from traffic crashes, 50 percent of the casualties can be prevented if proper air management is carried out for the patient. Also known as ventilation, air management refers to keeping the victim's mouth open, ensuring that there are no breathing interruptions after the accident and that the patient's head must be properly and carefully lifted.

Doctors also advised that there should be three to four people alongside the patient when they are being transported via an ambulance to the hospital.

Neurosurgeons not only shared their patients' experiences but also urged the government to established neurotrauma centres in every district as well.