There is a need to increase awareness about the prevention of head injuries, which is one of the main causes of death in accidents, according to doctors at a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on head injury management held by Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. India, the experts said, is known as the head injuries capital of the world due to the high number of road accidents.
More than 70 medical practitioners from Faridabad and Delhi-NCR – usually the first responders in head injury cases – attended the event to know about key treatment concepts. Experts from Amrita Hospital provided head injury first-aid and CPR training to paramedics, ambulance drivers and traffic policemen. In addition, community awareness programs were conducted in association with the Rotary Club, YMCA and Life Care Foundation.
Dr. Anandh Balasubramaniam, head of neurosurgery, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, said “Every 5-10 minutes, someone in India dies from a head injury. If people experience symptoms like decreased consciousness, headache, vomiting, altered behavior, weakness of limbs, changes in speech or seizures after a head injury, they need to seek help immediately. The first 1-2 hours, called the golden hour, are extremely critical to saving lives. If people see someone with a severe head injury, they should try to stop the bleeding, give CPR if possible, and rush the patient to a multi-disciplinary hospital that can manage all required treatment under one roof.”
Dr Gaurav Kakkar, lead, neuro anesthesia and neuro-critical care, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, said the latest technology such as advanced CT scans, intervention machines and modern ICU help in preventing fatalities due to traumatic brain injuries. “However, late arrival of patients to the hospital and indecision from the next of kin pose challenges to doctors. Head injuries can lead to severe complications like coma, disability, paralysis, and a long recovery period. Simple preventive measures can save thousands of lives. People should wear helmets while riding two-wheelers and use seat belts in cars in both front and rear seats. Children should be discouraged from using the sunroof in cars as these can lead to severe injuries during accidents or sudden braking.”
The CME was divided into themes such as social implications of head injuries, pediatric brain trauma, rehabilitation strategies for brain-injured patients, radiology and ventilatory strategies, intracranial pressure monitoring, management of traumatic brain injuries in a neuro ICU, and the importance of head injury management in a tertiary center.
