Trauma Room - The Golden Hour
A trauma room is where one is rushed to when you have suffered a traumatic accident. When the accident happens the clock starts running what is called the Golden Hour. It has been proven that what medical care given to the victim in the first hour after an accident will greatly determine their chances of survival. This means that a team of Emergency Medical Service personnel, a medical staff and a well equipped trauma room is of vital importance.
Roundup Memorial Hospital staff and administration work hard to keep the trauma room at the hospital up to date to provide high quality care during the Golden Hour. Lori Shanks, a member of the grant committee, has written several grants to insure that the trauma room stays well equipped. “When you live in a rural community with activities like horses, chain saws, hunting, oil wells, coal mines, and everyday ag work, accidents happen. Roundup Memorial Hospital needs to be ready when they do” stated Lori Shanks.
Some of the items that have been bought with the grant money are a new probable heart monitor and vital sing recorder. This peace of equipment costs over $9,000. Emergency department stretchers allow the medical staff to move and situate trauma victims to better treat them. These units cost over $11,000. Another piece of equipment is called a Bair Hugger. A victim can be placed in this unit to be warmed up. There is an attachment that allows medical staff to warm fluids that are being given to the patient. Theresa Kirby added, “This is the type of equipment that allows Roundup Memorial Hospital to provide quality care and stabilize trauma victims during the Golden Hour. Then when the victim is stabilized we can transport them safely on for their major medical needs.”
