July 29th, 2010
An incredibly disturbing public service announcement produced in the UK has been procured by the North and South Carolina regional Automobile Association of America (AAA) in its campaign to stop texting while driving. Titled “You Text – You Drive – You Die”, the video will air on 20 cable channels in the Carolinas starting this week.
Trauma surgeons like to say there are no vehicle accidents, collisions are caused by people deliberately doing stupid things. Nothing could be made more clear in this video. This is trauma, and it kills 170,000 people in the United States every year. Even with such graphic warnings, trauma surgeons will continue to try to put people back together after traumatic injuries like those shown in the video. Sometimes they are successful, but too often they’re not because they don’t have the right tools.
Help fund trauma research, and put more tools into the hands of trauma surgeons.
Posted in Trauma Media Coverage | No Comments »
July 29th, 2010
With the deadline closing last Friday, July 23, NTI saw 92 pre-proposals submitted for $2.8 million in available trauma research funding. The science committee now takes on the difficult task of reviewing them and choosing the most scientifically sound and promising, which will receive invitations to submit full proposals. The large number of high-quality pre-proposals is indication of a pent-up demand for trauma research and the great need to secure more funding.
Those who submitted pre-proposals can follow the status of their application here.
Posted in Trauma Research | No Comments »
July 23rd, 2010
NTI’s awareness and giving campaign, “Stop the Bleeding,” is featured in the Marketing & Media column in today’s issue of the San Antonio Business Journal.
Writer Andi Rodriguez describes the goals of the campaign and some of our strategies to build funding for trauma research, including our Times Square message asking people to text TRAUMA to 20222 to make a $10 donation.
Posted in National Trauma Institute News, Trauma Fundraising | No Comments »
July 20th, 2010
In the July 19 issue of Archives of Surgery, Dr. Carlos Brown, medical director of trauma services at University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin, TX, provides evidence that reusing a trauma patient’s own blood has several positive benefits. Complications that can result from transfusions of donated blood include adverse reactions and risk of disease transmission, which are mitigated when the doctors capture, filter and return blood to the patient.
While reuse of patients’ blood is relatively common in planned surgeries, the same does not hold true in emergency surgeries such as those that occur following traumatic events like car collisions. Brown said that’s because there must be a specialist–a perfusionist–on staff who can perform the procedure. In light of the shortage of donated blood and the decreased risk from reusing blood, Brown believes that trauma centers should look to adopt the procedure more widely.
Read more about the study in this U.S. News story.
Posted in Trauma Media Coverage, Trauma Research | No Comments »
July 14th, 2010
Boston Med, a new ABC television series airing at 10:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. Central on Thursday nights , is bringing a dose of reality into America’s living rooms. A real-life drama filmed at Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women’s, and Children’s Hospital Boston, the documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at the caregivers and their work.
We think this is a show that everyone needs to see in order to appreciate the heartwrenching work of trauma care personnel. It also is a reminder of the prevalence of trauma in our society and the need to continue to advance medical practice in order to reduce death and disability due to traumatic injury. Watch episodes online.
Posted in Trauma Show | No Comments »
July 13th, 2010
After nine years of war during which much has been learned about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its devastating effects, the Department of Veterans Affairs is changing the way it processes PTSD claims. Those serving in the military under circumstances other than frontline combat–such as guerrilla warfare, insurgent activity and in situations where it is difficult to distinguish between allies and threats–will now be able to apply for benefits related to PTSD. The VA is encouraging those previously denied PTSD benefits to reapply.
Read the story in today’s Washington Post.
Posted in Trauma Media Coverage, Uncategorized | No Comments »
July 13th, 2010
To make it easier for people to locate our Stop the Bleeding giving and awareness campaign, we have launched a new website that provides information and an online donation function at www.stopthebleeding.org.
Through the site, insterested donors can read more about the imperative for trauma research funding, text a $10 donation or gain entry directly to our giving page, which has more options. Text TRAUMA to 20222 to donate $10 now!
Posted in Trauma Fundraising | No Comments »
June 15th, 2010
A cheap and effective drug used in elective surgeries to hinder bleeding can be safely and effectively used in trauma victims as well, says a team of British scientists in the Online First edition of The Lancet. The drug, tranexamic acid, or TXA, inhibits an enzyme that breaks down blood clots.
In a study that included 20,000 patients in 40 countries, the researchers found that use of TXA cut death rates by 15%. An off-patent medication that has many generic manufacturers, the potential applications for the drug, particularly in developing countries, are tremendous. Replication of the study would be required before any major practice changes are made. Read more about the study in this CTV News story and also on MedPage Today.
Posted in Trauma Research | No Comments »
June 15th, 2010
In its second national request for proposals, the National Trauma Institute seeks to fund rigorous clinical studies, especially those that address hemorrhage, intensive care, trauma systems or pre-hospital care.
Half of the available $2.8 million in funding is designated specifically for studies related to non-compressible hemorrhage. Bleeding from extremity wounds stops with applied pressure, and tourniquets and advanced bandages have significantly reduced combat deaths, but 15 percent of battle injuries in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters are to the torso, where applying pressure is not an option. We must develop simple, field-expedient techniques for non-surgeons to use in emergency situations.
Other priorities include effective resuscitation strategies, new treatments for shock, better understanding of the coagulapathy of trauma, the elimination of hospital acquired infections, airway and ventilation management strategies for the injured, and topics related to battlefield and pre-hospital care and communication.
Pre-proposals must be submitted by July 23, 2010 and may outline clinical or translational research involving either single or multiple centers. For complete submission guidelines, visit the NTI website.
Posted in Grants and Awards, National Trauma Institute News | No Comments »
June 14th, 2010
In an article originally published in the New York Times, journalist C.J. Chivers reports from the front lines in Afghanistan about the daily work of military flight medics. It’s a well-written and heart-wrenching story that illuminates the dangers faced by those called upon to save the lives of our soldiers.
Chivers provides a sobering reminder that the draw-down of our troops in Iraq only means that the location of the fighting, the deaths and the devastating injuries is moving to Afghanistan–and along with it, the military trauma system. The pilots, flight medics, nurses, surgeons and others who constitute the military trauma system confront enormous challenges, face death daily, and save lives under extreme conditions. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.
Posted in Trauma Media Coverage | No Comments »