Trauma Program Home

What is Trauma?

Trauma is an accidental or intentional physical injury caused by events such as motor- vehicle crashes, falls, industrial accidents, stabbing and shootings. It can happen to anyone, yet the typical victim is young, healthy, and enjoying the most productive years of his/her life.

What is a Trauma System?

Until 2000, our province lacked a regionalized trauma system linking the 120 acute care treatment facilities in an organized manner. Prince George Regional Hospital is one of nine hospitals chosen as a Regional Trauma Centre. A trauma system is an inclusive, regionalized effort organized to deliver and coordinate emergency medical services and hospital resources to provide the highest standard of care to all injured patients.

Research has clearly demonstrated that a well organized trauma system will significantly reduce the occurrence of injury, and lead to a marked decrease in both death and disability.

Additional Injury Facts:

• Trauma is the leading cause of death between 1 and 44 years of age and the 4th leading cause of death in all age groups.
• Injuries result in more potential life years lost than any other disability.
• Trauma injuries produce over 10,000 deaths nationwide and over 1,000 deaths in B.C. each year.
• In B.C., it is estimated that 1/3 of traumatic injury death could be prevented (over 300 deaths per year), particularly in the northern region where pre-hospital deaths are significantly higher.
• In Canada, injury costs 15 billion dollars per year.

• 1 in every 136 crashes in a urban area results in fatality, while 1 in every 25 crashes in a rural area results in fatality.

• Seatbelt use and airbags can reduce motor-vehicle injuries by 61%.
• Reducing speed by 10 kph can cause a 15% decrease in mortality.
• Drinking & driving is responsible for 40% of all fatal motor-vehicle crashes.
• Alcohol & drugs account for more than 50% of injury-related deaths.
• 95% of injures are predictable and preventable; therefore, injuries are NOT accidents.