Letter to the Editor: Harlem Line Tragedy Highlights Work of Westchester Medical Center

February 20, 2015

To the Editor:

The recent tragedy on Metro North focused our attention once again on how fragile life can be.

Our hearts go out to the families of those we lost in this terrible accident. As well, we offer our sincere gratitude to all the first responders who were there to assist in every way possible.

What many of us may not realize is that when similar events occur and critical injuries result, severely injured victims have the best chance of surviving when brought as quickly as possible to a Level 1 Regional Trauma Center, in our case Westchester Medical Center. Central to the United States’ well-developed trauma system, Level I Trauma Centers are organizations uniquely qualified and capable of handling the most severely ill and injured children and adults.

These centers have the resources, skilled staff, equipment and infrastructure in place and at the ready 24 hours a day to handle the most critical patients.

On that Tuesday night, February 3rd, when notified of the incident, Westchester Medical Center officials issued a special alert, bringing to bear hundreds of well-trained and well-drilled professionals, opening several fully staffed operating rooms, readying an already busy Emergency Department and putting in place the trauma and support teams to handle what could have been a large number of victims. In the end, the number of severe injuries was thankfully low but all were delivered to teams highly trained in trauma, burn and other specialties associated with this type of incident.

Westchester Medical Center and all of the hospitals in our region and our first responders are part of a critical healthcare fabric, saving thousands of lives every year, with little fanfare.

Our Level 1 Trauma Center daily sees critically injured adult and pediatric trauma victims and severely ill children and adults brought from throughout the Hudson Valley to receive lifesaving treatment in trauma, burn, traumatic brain injury, cardiac, transplant and other specialties, all available right here in our backyard.

We all too often take for granted the amazing work that is done in our region every day to keep us healthy and safe. Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and families of this incident and the many who were pressed into service and answered the call that evening.

Sincerely,

Sandy Galef and Thomas J. Abinanti

New York State Assembly, 95th District, New York State Assembly, 92nd District

PHOTO: Twitter/Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino