Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital brings trauma response to life with air ambulance landing and live rescue simulation
The public will have a first-hand look at trauma and emergency care and the opportunity to learn practical lifesaving skills.
An air ambulance landing, simulated trauma patient transfer and live motor vehicle extraction will form part of a World Trauma Day event at Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital on October 17, giving the community a closer look at what happens from the moment a serious injury occurs to the patient receiving emergency care in hospital.
In serious trauma, the care a patient receives immediately following an injury is critical. Often referred to as the ‘golden hour’, this early period highlights the importance of rapid assessment, stabilisation and access to the appropriate trauma care. The event will demonstrate how emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital trauma teams work together to help get the right care to the patient as quickly as possible.
Observed annually on October 17, World Trauma Day raises awareness of trauma prevention and the importance of an effective response when serious injury occurs. It highlights the critical role of immediate care, emergency medical services and timely access to appropriate trauma care.
The hospital aims to use World Trauma Day to take trauma awareness beyond the hospital walls, bringing together EMS and trauma teams for live demonstrations and practical training designed to help members of the public better understand trauma response and learn potentially lifesaving skills.
The event also provides an opportunity to showcase Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital’s growing trauma services, which support patients from the West Rand as well as surrounding areas beyond its immediate community.
Event highlights will include:
• A live air ambulance landing by air rescue services, ROCKET Hems and trauma patient simulation, demonstrating the rapid response and seamless transfer of critically injured patients into the hospital’s trauma and emergency unit
• A live motor vehicle extrication demonstration by one of our dedicated EMS partners, showcasing the critical first steps in trauma rescue
• Hands-on first aid training for members of the public, led by EMS providers and focused on practical skills that could help in an emergency
 “World Trauma Day allows us to bring trauma care journey to life and demonstrate why the immediate response to trauma is so important. It also allows our community to learn practical skills that could help them respond in those critical first moments before professional medical help arrives,” says Adri Botes, hospital manager.
“Importantly, it is also an opportunity to recognise our EMS partners, who play a vital role throughout that journey, providing critical care before a patient reaches hospital and working alongside our hospital teams to ensure continuity of care.”
Botes says the hospital has seen strong growth in its trauma programme, with patients accessing its trauma and emergency services from beyond the hospital’s immediate catchment area.
“We are incredibly proud of how our trauma programme has grown, but ultimately this event is about awareness, preparedness and partnership. If someone leaves having learnt something that could help them respond in an emergency, then the day has achieved something meaningful.”
Members of the community, stakeholders and media are invited to attend Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital’s World Trauma Day event.
