When the weather warms up, people across the Greater Binghamton region head outside. They drive, bike, swim, ride ATVs and spend more time enjoying the season.
But with that increase in activity also comes a greater risk of injury.
At UHS Wilson Medical Center, the Trauma Services and Injury Prevention team sees that shift every year. UHS Wilson is a New York State-designated Level II trauma center and an American College of Surgeons-verified trauma program, caring for patients with a wide range of serious injuries.
“Our trauma numbers go up in the summer significantly,” said Emily Smith, BSN, RN, Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator, UHS. “More people are out and about. They’re out on their ATVs, they’re out in their swimming pools. It’s warm enough for our elderly population to be outside. People are just more active in the summertime.”
The team cares for trauma patients who come through the Emergency Department, due to any number of serious injuries. For UHS, one of the biggest areas of focus is geriatric falls. Smith and Bethlehem Emmons-Post, DMSc, PA-C, TPM, Trauma Program Manager, UHS, both said falls among older adults are the most common cause of trauma seen by the team. Motor vehicle crashes are another leading concern, especially during the summer months. Ms. Emmons-Post said the team also sees seasonal increases in injuries related to ATVs, bicycles, teen driving and water-related accidents.
Beyond providing care for patients coming into the hospital with injuries, a major part of the work of a trauma center is prevention – providing the education and resources needed to help stop injuries before they occur.
“That community outreach is essential. As a trauma center, we must identify our most common injuries and then educate the community to help reduce the number of trauma cases each year,” Ms. Smith said.
Members of the Trauma Services and Injury Prevention team spend significant time in the community, providing educational programs on topics including:
- Stop the Bleed, which teaches people how to respond to uncontrolled bleeding
- Child car seat fitting events
- Bike helmet fittings
- CarFit events for older adults
- Tai chi classes for fall prevention
- AARP Safe Driving courses
- Railroad safety education
- Teen driver safety programs
As part of its injury prevention education efforts, the team visits local schools to teach students about seatbelt use, distracted driving, impaired driving and emergency response skills.
One of the most interactive programs is “Battle of the Belts,” a relay-style competition that challenges students to buckle up quickly and correctly. The team recently brought the program to Chenango Valley, Maine-Endwell and Greene high schools, along with Stop the Bleed education and activities using impairment goggles to show how alcohol or drug use can affect coordination and judgment.
Ms. Emmons-Post said the Greene High School event was especially meaningful because it allowed the team to expand its reach into Chenango County. While the activities are fun and engaging, the message behind them is serious. Many traumatic injuries can be prevented with simple choices.
“Trauma is one of the main injuries that you can prevent,” Smith said. “Something as simple as putting on a helmet or buckling your seatbelt can help. Those extra two seconds might save you from a significant injury.”
As summer activities ramp up, UHS encourages community members to slow down, pay attention, use proper safety equipment and make choices that can help prevent serious injury.
Whether it is buckling up, putting on a helmet, ensuring that a child’s car seat is installed correctly or helping an older loved one reduce their risk of falling, prevention can start with small steps. And those small steps can save lives.
To learn more about the UHS Trauma Services and Injury Prevention team, and the programs they provide to the community, please visit nyuhs.org.