HS Students Raise Awareness Of Trauma Effects, Train

From Advocate Lutheran General Hospital: More than 200 students from Maine East High School, Resurrection High School and UCAN Academy take part in annual event to raise awareness around the repercussions of serious injuries

What: Students from across the Chicagoland area will take part in the 19th annual Trauma Day at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. The annual event, hosted by the hospital’s Level I Trauma Center staff and other health care professionals at the hospital in Park Ridge, helps raise awareness among students about the repercussions of serious injuries as part of Trauma Awareness Month in May.

Trauma Day offers ‘hands-on’ activities designed to encourage students to drive safely by avoiding driving impaired and highlights the negative consequences of driving distracted. The activities are also meant to give them a better understanding of the trauma patient’s journey from the Flight for Life helicopter, to the Emergency Department, to the operating room and intensive care unit. Whether the students are assisting in intubating a mannequin, getting dressed while trying to balance on a ball to simulate recovery after a brain injury or experiencing a field sobriety test, all the activities encourage them to think before they act. New this year to the annual program is a Stop the Bleed station where students will learn lifesaving techniques to aid someone who is bleeding before help arrives.

“The number one cause of death from age one to 45 is accidental injury and many of those deaths are from uncontrolled bleeding,” said Dr. Amy Stewart, a trauma surgeon at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. “It’s of vital importance for students, teachers and the community to learn how to stop life-threatening bleeding just as we all know CPR to save someone who is in cardiac arrest. Stop the Bleed, teaches these basic skills to save someone’s life if they are bleeding. I’m thrilled that we are able to add this hands-on station to Trauma Day.”

The students also have the opportunity to meet three young trauma survivors. All were treated at Lutheran after sustaining traumatic brain injuries and other bodily injuries from their traumatic accidents.

“We work hard to ensure that the students involved in Trauma Day are engaged in activities that will get their attention,” said Kathy Tanouye, R.N., Trauma Services Manager at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. “Our team’s job at this annual event is getting students to think twice before making decisions that could change their lives forever and to help prevent serious injuries before they occur. When teens see the long-term impact of a traumatic injury, it changes their perception of somewhat small but lifechanging choices they might make in the future.”

When: Friday, May 4 - 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Where: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, 1775 Dempster, Park Ridge, IL

Who: More than 200 students from Maine East High School, Resurrection High School and UCAN Academy, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Trauma Center Staff

Photo/Video Opportunities: Media is invited to capture video of students participating in Trauma Day along with interviews with select students, two trauma survivors (panelists) and the Level I Trauma staff who leads the annual event including Dr. Amy Stewart, Trauma Surgeon at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

RSVP Required: Jacqueline.goldman@advocatehealth.com (office) 847.723.6111 (cell) 650.387.8538

Image via Shutterstock.com