Access to the Right Care After a Crash Will Save Lives

Accidents, whether minor or major, can cause physical and psychological trauma, which may have long-lasting effects on a person’s health and well-being. Therefore, prompt and appropriate care is essential to minimize the adverse effects of such incidents. Post-crash trauma care involves a range of interventions, including emergency medical treatment, to ensure that individuals receive immediate care and support to manage the physical and emotional consequences of the accident.

Effective post-crash trauma care can have a significant impact on an individual’s recovery and long-term outcomes. Early intervention and care can improve the chances of recovery and reduce the risk of long-term disability and chronic pain. A failure to provide appropriate and prompt trauma care can also result in unnecessary deaths. Kansas City, for example, is currently struggling to staff its 911 lines, causing emergency calls to go unanswered and our citizens to suffer and die needlessly. Today we want to take a deeper dive into how having prompt access to trauma care after a serious accident can save more lives.

The importance of quality post-crash care

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) discusses post-crash care, noting, “Our ability to save lives does not end when a crash occurs. Appropriate medical care for people injured in a crash to prevent their injuries from becoming fatal is critical.” What does this mean? It means the timely arrival of emergency responders, and better access to trauma centers, and an improvement in the quality and availability of national emergency medical services data.

The DOT provides a variety of statistics demonstrating better outcomes for motor vehicle accident victims when they have access to good post-crash care:

• 42,915 people died in traffic accidents in 2021
• Two out of five victims were alive when first responders arrived but later died from their injuries
• 20% of trauma deaths are preventable with proper care
• Odds of survival increase by 25% for severely injured victims if treated in a Level I or II trauma center
• Over one-third of seriously injured accident victims are not taken to a Level I or II trauma center

The DOT also mentions that managing the scene of the crash to keep first responders and passing motorists safe is another critical component.

Why isn’t Kansas City answering its 911 calls?

Last June, KCUR, citing data from NPR Kansas City reported a staggering statistic – “While an industry standard is to answer 90% of incoming calls within 15 seconds, Kansas City is struggling to answer 75% of calls within that time frame, according to data compiled by the Mid-America Regional Council.”

According to KCUR, the department is short more than two dozen 911 operators, which is affecting their ability to answer calls promptly. The situation has become so bad that callers have to wait on hold for several minutes, and some even hang up before they can speak to a dispatcher. This delay in answering calls can put people’s lives at risk, especially during emergencies.

The KCUR story also highlights the tragic story of Aaron Wayne Tolbert Sr., who died of an asthma attack before he could reach 911. Per Tolbert’s brother, “He called 911 twice and by the time they got to him, he had deceased.” KCUR explains further:

Mark Tolbert said that he requested a transcript of his brother’s late February conversation with call-takers. None exists.

That’s because his brother was placed on hold, twice. Once free from the volume of other requests for help, call-takers tried repeatedly to call him back, but there was no answer. They resorted to pinging his phone to find out where the call originated.

To address the problem, the city is taking steps to attract and retain more qualified dispatchers. These include increasing pay and benefits and offering more training and support. However, the article notes that these measures may not be enough to solve the problem in the short term, and that more needs to be done to address the underlying issues that are driving the shortage.

This includes improving working conditions and providing more resources and support for dispatchers, as well as exploring new technologies that could help to streamline the dispatching process and reduce the workload on individual dispatchers.

What types of injuries require trauma care?

Trauma care is a specialized medical service that provides immediate and specialized treatment to individuals who have suffered from severe injuries. The types of injuries that require trauma care can vary widely, but generally, they are injuries that pose an immediate threat to the patient’s life or long-term health. Some of the most common injuries that require trauma care include:

• Severe head injuries, like traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries, which can result in paralysis or other long-term disabilities
• Severe burns, which can lead to infection, shock, and other complications
• Severe fractures and dislocations, which can cause significant pain, swelling, and loss of mobility
• Severe bleeding, which can result from internal injuries, wounds, or other trauma
• Trauma to major organs, such as the heart, lungs, or liver, which can result in life-threatening complications

The goal of trauma care is to stabilize the patient’s condition and prevent further damage, while also addressing any underlying medical issues or complications that may arise as a result of the injury.

Were you or a loved one severely injured due to another’s negligence? No matter how that injury occurred, the Top of Formlawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys want to help. We work to secure you the compensation to which you’re entitled for your injuries and losses. To schedule a consultation with an experienced attorney, call our offices or fill out our contact form today. We serve clients from offices in Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, St. Joseph and Parkville, MO, as well as Overland Park, Kansas City and Olathe, KS.