With India earning the dubious distinction of registering the highest number of road traffic accidents in the world, the trauma care experts have called for increased focus on prevention through awareness on road safety along with training of general doctors in handling head injury cases before the victim receives specialised care.
As high as 80 to 90 per cent of mishaps were caused by human error.
Mistakes by drivers or other commuters on the roads are directly or indirectly responsible for road accidents while speeding and overtaking remained the two major causes of fatal accidents.
“It is surprising to note that vehicular faults, defective roads and environmental factors are responsible only for three to five per cent of all accidents,” Dr Sanjay Kulashrestha of Sarkar Hospital for Women and Children, Agra said at a seminar on “Road Traffic Accident - Salvaging the Victim” organised by the Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital here.
According to the World Health Organisation estimates, road accidents were the second largest cause of all deaths in the world. In 2012, India, with 30 crore vehicles, accounted for the 130,000 road accidents, which had steeply increased from 54,100 in 1990.
Expressing concern over growing road accidents, eminent neurosurgeon Prof Sanatan Rath emphasised the need for general doctors to have the required knowledge of handling head injury cases before the victim is accorded speciality care. Many lives would be saved in the process, he said.
Of the total number of accident victims, 24 per cent could be saved through simple trauma care, 46 per cent through advanced trauma care and rest 30 per cent could not be saved through any intervention including the best medical care facility in the world.
It was because the impact of accident in such cases was so severe that it caused death instantaneously or within a few minutes before medical help could arrive, Dr Kulashrestha said.
Chairman of the organising committee Prof Sureswar Mohanty and Medical Director of IMS and Sum Hospital DK Roy took part among others.
Road Mishap
* In 2012, India, with 30 crore vehicles, accounted for 130,000 road accidents, which had steeply risen from 54,100 in 1990
* Of the total number of accident victims, 24 per cent could be saved through simple trauma care, 46 per cent through advanced trauma care and rest 30 per cent could not be saved through any intervention