Three-fold hike in trauma cases due to drunken revelry

The AIIMS Trauma Centre saw a three-fold rise in accidents and injuries on the eve of Holi. Most cases were of drunk revellers riding two-wheelers without helmets or getting into brawls.

The AIIMS Trauma Centre saw a three-fold rise in accidents and injuries on the eve of Holi. Most cases were of drunk revellers riding two-wheelers without helmets
or getting into brawls.

HT Image

Road accident injuries were followed by stabbing and fractures, cuts, bruises and abrasions from falls.On Wednesday, 23 people were brought to the trauma centre in a critical state. The centre reported one death, that of a 34-year-old who fell off the roof of his three-storeyed

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/Popup/2013/3/29_03_13-metro2b.jpg

building while lobbing water balloons.

“Most of the cases were heavily intoxicated people driving two-wheelers without any protective gear. One needs to understand the importance of helmets when riding two-wheelers, even when riding pillion,” said Dr MC Misra, chief, Trauma Centre.

According to the doctors, the presence of alcohol or any other toxicant in the blood stream affects treatment adversely. “The treatment gets delayed as medicines take longer to react in such cases,” said Misra.

The trauma centre deployed a dedicated team outside the emergency to wash the effects of alcohol, bhang etc, as well as colour, off the accident victims.

The other city hospitals reported several cases of eye, skin, bone and other injuries. “We received many cases of corneal abrasions, grade-II chemical injury to the eye and infection,” said Dr Mahipal S. Sachdev, chairman, Centre for Sight group of eye hospitals.

Moolchand Hospital received 29 cases ranging from trauma to acute gastroenteritis to eye injury and allergy. Fortis Healthcare received 10 cases of allergic skin and eye reaction to Holi colours and fractures.