Trauma is a major health problem in the United States. No one plans to go to the hospital because of an injury, but Trauma is the leading cause of death for people under the age of 44.
- More than 100,000 people die because of Trauma each year in the United States. Trauma kills more people than heart disease and cancer combined. (American College of Surgeons)
- Each year, 8 to 9 million people in the United States suffer disabling injuries. Of those, 3 million people will be permanently disabled. (American College of Surgeons)
- Texas has the highest death rate of alcohol related crashes in the United States. From 2004-2008, a total of 6,703 individuals died in vehicle trauma with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit of 0.08 or higher (Texas Department of Transportation). This is an average of 1,340 deaths annually. During Operation Enduring Freedom, the total number of US military deaths from 2001 to 2010 was 1,317. (Department of Defense)
- Trauma is preventable. Doctors and nurses who care for injured patients do not call these events “accidents.” Nearly all events are preventable. Alcohol abuse, distracted driving, violence and not using safety equipment properly are some of the many causes of these trauma events.
The Trauma Center at Parkland Memorial Hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center serving Trauma Service Area E (TSA-E), known as the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council (NCTTRAC). This incorporates nineteen north central Texas rural, suburban and urban counties. According to the 2008 census, it indicates that 6.7 million people reside within the 15,574.71 square miles of TSA-E, representing 27 percent of the entire population of the State of Texas.
- The Trauma Center at Parkland admitted 4,754 injured people from July 2009 through December 2010. The Parkland Trauma Team responded to 7,351 trauma activations during this same time.
- 42 percent of those admissions from July 2009 through December 2010 were related to vehicle trauma. Falls were the second leading cause of injury for admission to Parkland Hospital.
- During July 2009 through December 2010, 65 percent of patient deaths were the result of vehicle trauma.
Mechanism of Injury |
Total Number of Admissions |
Percent of Admissions |
Vehicle |
2005 |
42% |
Falls |
1144 |
24% |
Assaults |
439 |
9% |
Other |
295 |
6% |
Industrial |
235 |
5% |
Gun Shot |
259 |
5% |
Stab Wound |
169 |
3% |
Sport |
106 |
2% |
Animal |
94 |
2% |
Boat |
7 |
Less than 1% |
Aircraft |
1 |
Less than 1% |
TOTAL |
4754 |
100% |
Mechanism of Injury |
Percentage of Deaths |
Vehicle |
65% |
Gun Shot |
16% |
Fall |
10% |
Stab Wound |
3% |
Hanging |
2% |
Fire / Structure with Traumatic Injury |
2% |
Aircraft |
2% |
TOTAL |
100% |
