The accident involving a government bus and a trailer at Santhavelur village in Sunguvarchathiram on October 16 Wednesday, which left six dead on the spot, emphasised the need for trauma care centres. Trauma care for accident victims is available in teaching medical institutions near the State capital but not in those in smaller towns. The injured driver of the bus, Anbu, was taken to two other government hospitals before finally being transported to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for treatment. He was first taken to the Kancheepuram GH from where he was referred to the Chengalpettu GH, which in turn referred him to the hospital in Chennai.
At the Kancheepuram GH, the driver could only be stabilised. At Chengalpettu, he was provided better care though he ultimately had to be transferred to Chennai for further treatment, an official said. According to sources in GVK EMRI 108 emergency ambulance service, it took 25 minutes to shift the patient from the accident spot to the first hospital. However, during peak hours, it could have taken at least 40 minutes. “Immediate intubation and controlling any bleeding is important. It is when breathing is compromised that complications arise,” a senior EMRI official said. |
