HSHS hospitals recognize National Trauma Awareness Month

Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Wis.  –  Trauma does not discriminate. It is also unpredictable. Staff at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals want to remind community members about the importance of getting immediate treatment for trauma-related injuries and emergencies.

May is designated as National Trauma Awareness Month to provide support to survivors of traumatic injuries and recognize trauma team members for the skilled care they provide, often at a moment’s notice.

“Trauma remains the number one cause of death for those under the age of 45,” explained Tyler Bowe, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals’ trauma coordinator. “Our team is equipped with the expertise and resources to provide patients the life-saving care they need no matter what type of trauma or emergency comes through our doors.” 

Trauma is defined as a severe injury caused by a physical force such as a vehicle crash, gunshots, knife wounds, falls, battery or burns.

“Nurses, doctors and other specialists need to function in a high-stress, often chaotic environment while staying calm and level-headed,” says Bowe. “Our emergency room team collaborates closely with many other departments to provide seamless, yet rapid response to triage and treat patients.”

The following are the most common traumas treated at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals in 2021:

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Causes of Trauma

Falls 51%  

Motor vehicle crashes 38%

Bicycle crashes 5%

ATV crashes 1%

Machinery-related accidents 1%

All other 4%

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Causes of Trauma

Falls 38%

Motor vehicle crashes 34%

Motorcycle crashes 9%

Penetrating injuries 3%

Pedestrian vs. vehicle crashes 3%

All other 13%

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, 900 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, is a Level III state-certified trauma center. It is open 24/7 with board-certified emergency room physicians and nurses who are specially trained to care for patients with a variety of medical, surgical and trauma-related emergencies. For more information please visit the HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency Services webpage.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, 2661 Hwy I, Chippewa Falls, is the only state-certified Level IV trauma care facility in Chippewa County and provides highly skilled care 24/7. For more information, please visit Emergency Services on the HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital website.

 

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About HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889, it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition.

About HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1885, it has served the people of the Chippewa Falls area with health care that is high tech and high touch. Known locally for the quality of the care it provides patients, the hospital has been recognized nationally for its outstanding patient satisfaction levels. 

About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries,  and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.