Title: Increased Violence and War Puts Focus on Swedish Trauma Care
Subtitle: Disaster Medical Center in Linköping Coordinates Distribution of War-Wounded People from Ukraine
Linköping, Sweden – The Disaster Medical Center in Linköping has been playing a crucial role in coordinating and distributing war-wounded individuals from Ukraine to hospitals across the country since last year. This, combined with the escalating spiral of violence marked by shootings and explosions, has shifted the spotlight towards Swedish trauma care.
Per Loftås, the chief emergency physician and surgeon at the Disaster Medicine Center, acknowledges the change in public interest. “For many years, most people have been uninterested in this, but now it’s a completely different understanding,” he says. Loftås asserts that people now demand education and greater knowledge in trauma care, emphasizing the need for organized courses.
In Gävleborg, this year has witnessed a specific focus on trauma care, particularly concerning knife and gunshot wounds, in response to staff requests. Denise Bäckström, trauma doctor in Region Gävleborg, explains that their training encompasses the entire chain of trauma care, ranging from ambulance services to the emergency department, surgery, and X-ray. Bäckström believes that trauma care necessitates seamless collaboration among healthcare staff and emphasizes the importance of teamwork in delivering efficient care.
Caring for trauma patients is inherently challenging, and when a person has gunshot or knife wounds, the demands on healthcare staff increase exponentially. The time factor becomes critical, as each passing minute can mean the difference between life and death. Bäckström underlines the need for speed and efficiency, stating, “When it comes to penetrating trauma, we have to be even faster and even better at what we do. These patients die very quickly, and what we do, we have to do faster.”
While other countries with more experience may excel in handling gunshot and knife wounds, Per Loftås asserts that Sweden is actively striving to improve its trauma care capabilities. Loftås acknowledges that the country needs to enhance its proficiency in dealing with firearms and explosive violence, particularly as situations like mass shootings and potential wars become more prevalent.
The dedication to developing trauma care and addressing the challenges posed by violence and war demonstrates the progress and commitment of Sweden’s healthcare professionals. As people now recognize the urgency and importance of trauma care, efforts to educate, train, and improve the country’s response to traumatic injuries continue to evolve.
Source: (http://www.gp.se/1.112007766)