Why focus on trauma?

• Community surveys asked residents what they saw as the greatest healthcare need in our community and 42% named "trauma"!
• More than 1,100 trauma cases are projected for Brevard and Indian River counties this year.
  
  
• Nationwide 60 million injuries occur annually:

• 30 million require medical care
• 9 million are disabling
• 3.6 million require hospitalization
• One death occurs every 5-10 minutes as a result of an accident/injury
• Cost = $400 billion annually

What does it take to be designated as a trauma center?

• Full-time trauma surgeons, Emergency Department physicians, and hundreds of dedicated physicians, nurses, specialists and technicians to cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Designated operating room
• Designated trauma room
• Trauma coordinator and registrar
• Trauma research
• Multiple medical and surgical specialists
• CT scan and invasive radiology
• Designated intensive care units (ICUs)
• Staff education
• Quality improvement programs
• Rehabilitation programs
• Community outreach, education, and prevention programs

What are the different trauma designations?

• Level I — Provides definitive, 24-hour care for critically injured patients, conducts trauma-related research and is, therefore, usually university-based.
• Level II — Provides definitive, 24-hour care for critically injured patients, has the option of pursuing research, and is usually awarded to full-service, community-based regional medical centers.

What are the options for Brevard and Indian River counties?

• Holmes Regional Medical Center, Melbourne (Level II)
• Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando (Level I) 75 miles
• Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach (Level II) 106 miles
• St. Mary’s, West Palm Beach (Level II) 110 miles

How does First Flight determine which hospital or trauma center is closest?

Florida law requires patients meeting certain trauma criteria to be transported to an accredited trauma center. The pilot might not take the patient to the trauma center that is closest in miles, but rather to whichever one can be reached most quickly. Variables such as weather, wind speed, etc., are calculated to determine where the patient may receive care the fastest.

What are the most common causes of trauma injuries?

In 1999 to 2007, the injuries our patients received were caused by the following: